By Markel Braggs
Contributing Writer
After a Thanksgiving feast, the Farmers were looking to advance in the Division III non-select bracket against the 5th-seeded Bogalusa Lumberjacks. The Lumberjacks won the toss and elected to kick off and started the game with an onside kick that was caught and returned for a couple of yards by Jeremiah Hartness.
From there QB Jorden Hill and the Farmers’ offense moved the ball toward the Bogalusa red zone. However, RB Jy’marion Island fumbled the ball and it was recovered by the Jacks.
Coming in for Bogalusa as QB was Ashton Levi with 2,384 passing yards, 1061 rushing yards, and 40 touchdowns for the season. The Farmers’ defense was up for the challenge holding the Jacks to a three and out on their first drive.
After a punt, Farmers’ QB Hill kept the ball and scrambled for a 50-yard touchdown run on the first play of the series, and kicker Ryan Reeder kept his streak alive with the extra point.
Farmers are on the board first 7-0. Bogalusa received the kickoff and ran 2 quick plays and on the 3rd play after a penalty, QB Levi threw a pass from their 20-yard line that was caught by WR Lance Jackson on the Farmers’ 30-yard line. Then Jackson ran the ball in for a TD, and the Jacks went for 2 but it was no good. The Farmers’ lead was cut to 1.
The Farmers go 3 and out on the next series, but when the Jacks get the ball back QB Levi throws a pass to his WR that is tipped by the Farmers’ Safety/QB Jorden Hill and then intercepted on a controversial call by DB Omarion Thomas.
The Farmers then pounded the ball down the field on a long drive that culminated with a Derrick Dew rushing TD from the 7-yard line. Reeder’s extra point was good and in the 2nd quarter, the Farmers were up 14-6.
Still, in the 2nd quarter, Bogalusa marched down the field from their 26-yard line to the Farmers’ 17-yard line, and on a QB keeper was tackled just short of the goal line by LB Ty’quereis Wilson on a 4th down. The Farmers took over on downs to end the first half.
The Jacks took the 2nd half kickoff at the 6-yard line and returned the ball to the 43-yardline. On the 3rd play of the series, Ashton Levi launched a 43-yard TD pass to his WR Desmond Ramirez. The Jacks went for 2 on a QB keeper and the score was tied 14 all.
The Farmers get the ball back with good field position after a strong return from Chase Meeking. Jy’marion Island got a 1st down on the next play and then Hill ran the ball for a gain.
Then Island broke free from the 28-yard line of the Jacks for a walk-in TD. Reeder’s extra point was good again and the Farmers were back in the lead 21-14.
Bogalusa took the kick-off to their 30-yard line and marched down the field to the Farmers’ 7-yard line. However, the Farmers’ defense dug in and pushed the Jacks back on a Braxton Patterson sack. The Jacks went for it on 4th down but fumbled the ball out-of-bounds on the 2-yard line and the Farmers took over.
Running back Jy’marion Island got the ball out to the Jacks 49-yard line on 2 quick running plays. But the Farmers’ offense stalled and they had to punt.
The Jacks bobbled the punt and were flagged for a penalty that pushed them back to their 1-yard line. Levi stepped back into the end zone and launched a bomb that was intercepted by DB Chase Meeking. However, the Farmers quickly stalled out on downs.
Again deep in their territory, the Jacks moved the ball down the field on a long pass to WR Ayden Magee. Bogalusa continued to move the ball down the field in the
4th quarter but took a loss and was pushed back on 3rd down. With a fourth and nine,
Levi threw a pass to the 5 yard-line to Dyron Jackson for a first down. Levi then threw a
5-yard pass for a TD to Magee for 6 and Ramirez caught the 2-point conversion to take
the lead 22-21 with 4:10 left in the quarter.
The Farmers returned the kick-off to their 31-yard line on a run by Chase
Meeking. On the first play of the series, Island was bunched up for no gain. On the next
play, Jorden Hill dropped back and launched a deep ball that was hauled in by Tomorrio
Bilberry who beat the defender like a drum for a TD. Reeder’s extra point was good and
the Farmers were back in the lead 28-22 with 3:23 minutes left in the game.
The Jacks got the ball back on their 30-yard line. The Farmers stopped
Bogalusa on their 1st three plays to bring up a 4th and 9. Ashton Levi threw an
incomplete pass, and the Farmers stopped the drive to take over on downs.
With 1:31 left in the game, the Farmers run the clock out for an exciting victory to
move to the semi-finals for the 5th year in a row where they will face the number 1 seed
Jena Giants in Jena on December 1st.
This was the final home game for a special group of seniors that have gone to
the Dome 3 years in a row. They include QB/Safety Jorden Hill who passed for 72 yards
for 1 TD, ran for 108 yards and a score, and 9 tackles; Jy’marion Island RB rushed for
144 yards and 1TD to break the 2000 rushing yards’ mark for the season. Tomorrio
Bilberry WR/DB had 1 TD on a 63-yard run and 8 tackles; Omarion Thomas DB 7
tackles and 1 interception. Eric Jones LB had 2 tackles and Ty’travius Wallace DT had 4
tackles on the night. Charles Kendrick DE also had 4 tackles, Jordan Jones DE had 7
tackles, and Treyvon Ward added 3 tackles in the game. Orlando Gray and I, Markel
Braggs, round out the seniors on the squad.
Come out and support your Fightin’ Farmers in Jena as push to make it back to
the Dome for 4th year in a row.
Again deep in their territory, the Jacks moved the ball down the field on a long pass to WR Ayden Magee. Bogalusa continued to move the ball down the field in the 4th quarter but took a loss and was pushed back on 3rd down. With a fourth and nine,
Levi threw a pass to the 5 yard-line to Dyron Jackson for a first down. Levi then threw a-yard pass for a TD to Magee for 6 and Ramirez caught the 2-point conversion to take the lead 22-21 with 4:10 left in the quarter.
The Farmers returned the kick-off to their 31-yard line on a run by Chase Meeking. On the first play of the series, Island was bunched up for no gain. On the next
play, Jorden Hill dropped back and launched a deep ball that was hauled in by Tomorrio Bilberry who beat the defender like a drum for a TD. Reeder’s extra point was good and the Farmers were back in the lead 28-22 with 3:23 minutes left in the game.
The Jacks got the ball back on their 30-yard line. The Farmers stopped Bogalusa on their 1st three plays to bring up a 4th and 9. Ashton Levi threw an incomplete pass, and the Farmers stopped the drive to take over on downs.
With 1:31 left in the game, the Farmers run the clock out for an exciting victory to move to the semi-finals for the 5th year in a row where they will face the number 1 seed
Jena Giants in Jena on December 1st.
This was the final home game for a special group of seniors that have gone to the Dome 3 years in a row. They include QB/Safety Jorden Hill who passed for 72 yards for 1 TD, ran for 108 yards and a score, and 9 tackles; Jy’marion Island RB rushed for 144 yards and 1TD to break the 2000 rushing yards’ mark for the season. Tomorrio Bilberry WR/DB had 1 TD on a 63-yard run and 8 tackles; Omarion Thomas DB 7 tackles and 1 interception. Eric Jones LB had 2 tackles and Ty’travius Wallace DT had 4 tackles on the night. Charles Kendrick DE al o had 4 tackles, Jordan Jones DE had 7 tackles, and Treyvon Ward added 3 tackles in the game. Orlando Gray and I, Markel Braggs, round out the seniors on the squad.