WOLFFORTH, TX — The Jayton Jaybirds faced off against the Klondike Cougars at Frenship's Peoples Bank Stadium in the 1A 6-Man Division 2 State Semi-Finals. After a slow start with just 8 points scored in the first quarter, both teams picked up the pace in the second. Jayton pulled ahead and, with the addition of three defensive touchdowns, led for most of the game. The Jaybirds finished strong, winning 90-48 and earning a spot in the state championship.
Watch the game highlights below:
In a highly defensive battle early on, ten minutes passed before either team could find the end zone. With just 56 seconds remaining in the first quarter, Jayton broke the scoring drought, putting the first points on the board after a defensive struggle on both sides of the field. Halfway into the second quarter, the Cougars responded with a missile of a pass to match the Jaybirds, 8-8.
With the score tied, both offenses started to click. Jayton scored four consecutive touchdowns, taking a 40-8 lead with 1:05 left in the second quarter. Klondike finally answered with a touchdown, but Jayton quickly with another, sending both teams into the locker room with the score 46-16 at the half.
The Cougars gained a boost of momentum after their first drive stalled in the 3rd quarter, but the Jaybirds knew they needed to put their foot on the pedal to stay ahead. Jayton responded quickly with a touchdown, sparking a back-and-forth exchange of scores. Each time Klondike found the end zone, Jayton answered right back. After three touchdowns from each team, the Jaybirds still held a 68-40 lead with 8:22 left in the fourth quarter.
One of Jayton’s three defensive touchdowns came when Klondike snapped the ball over the quarterback’s head. A Jaybird defender scooped it up and ran it in for a touchdown, extending their lead to 82-40. Klondike had one final opportunity to score, but Jayton responded once again. In a final attempt to score, the Cougars reached the end zone only to have the ball stripped away with just over a minute remaining. Jayton ran out the clock, securing the 1A 6-Man Division 2 State Semi-Final Championship and earning a spot in the UIL State Championship at AT&T Stadium.
Head Coach of the Jayton Jaybirds, Josh Stanaland, talks about how his team fought the well-improved Klondike Cougars with the great weapons they have and how the Jaybirds had to deal with some adversity in playing their first 4 quarter game this season. Watch that interview here:
Jayton (14-0) moves on to the final stop of their season for the first time since 2006. The Jaybirds will face the winner of Oakwood and Oglesby in the State Championship at the AT&T Stadium on December 18. Kickoff is slated at 11 a.m.
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