Lions overtake the Indians

The Jacksonville Fightin’ Indians knew they would get the Henderson Lions’ best shot on Friday night when the longtime local rivals met for the opening game in the newly-renovated Lions Stadium.

The Lions came into the contest playing well despite an 0-2 record, having lost a close game to the defending Class 4A Division II state champions from Texarkana Pleasant Grove in week two.

The Tribe and the Lions went back-and-forth all night, with a few key penalties and missed opportunities costing Jacksonville in the 28-22 loss.

Jacksonville got off to a rocky start before the game’s first play from scrimmage, needing to burn a time-out to fix a personnel issue immediately after receiving the opening kickoff. The Tribe would then incur an offensive block in the back penalty in the midst of a three-and-out opening series.

Senior Chris Carpenter boomed a 43 yard punt to flip the field and the Tribe defense, riding high from its impressive week two showing against Palestine, would soon record the game’s first highlight.

On the second play of Henderson’s opening drive, Lion quarterback Sevastian Deleon was intercepted by Jacksonville senior defensive back and TCU commit Deshawn McCuin to set the Tribe up with plus-territory field position at the Lion 35.
McCuin added a flash of his trademark speed on the offensive side of the ball in the ensuing drive, taking the snap from the wildcat formation and converting on fourth down to extend the possession.
The Tribe matriculated the ball all the way down into Henderson’s red zone to set up the game’s first scoring chance. Unfortunately for the visitors, the 33-yard field goal attempt by Alejandro Pina-Sanchez was unsuccessful.

The Lions were unsuccessful on their next possession of the first quarter. The Tribe ended the quarter looking at a fourth down on Henderson’s 32 yard line after a run-heavy drive that featured another big run from McCuin, this one for 27 yards. Jacksonville coach Wayne Coleman showed faith in his offense again, electing to go for it on the first play of the second quarter.

Quarterback Tristen Shewmake found Braelyn Riden with a 32 yard scoring strike to get the Indians on the board first. The PAT was no good.

Henderson wasted little time answering the score. Deleon showed his own passing prowess by connecting with Kourtland Jackson for 36 yards and a touchdown less than a minute after Jacksonville’s score.

With the PAT, Henderson took the 7-6 lead. The Indians would stall again and be forced to punt to the Lions.

Deleon would extend the Lions’ lead with another touchdown pass, this time to Caleb Medford at the 5:17 mark of the second quarter. The ensuing PAT was no good.

Deshawn McCuin continued to provide a spark from the wildcat formation for Jacksonville and he was rewarded with a nine-yard touchdown run on the next possession. Pina-Sanchez missed the extra point, leaving the score at 13-12 in favor of the Lions.

The Tribe kicker would have a shot to redeem himself just before time expired, however. Pina Sanchez popped the next kickoff up high in an onside attempt that has become a trademark of Wayne Coleman’s squad.

Jacksonville’s Joydasion Thompson showed both hustle and hands on the play, catching the ball in the air and giving the Tribe a bonus possession before the half expired.

Shewmake and senior running back T.J. Ratliffe led the Indians down into the red zone yet again before a fumble almost cost JHS some momentum.

However, quick thinking on the offensive line retained possession for the Tribe, setting up a Pina-Sanchez field goal attempt from 25 yards out. The kick sailed through the uprights as time expired, giving Jacksonville the 15-13 lead at halftime.

Both offenses took some time to get going in the second half of play before the home team struck to retake the lead. Deleon hit Medford with a 32-yard touchdown pass at the 9:21 mark of the third. With the extra point, the Lions clawed back into the lead, 20-15.

Not to be outdone in the deep ball department, Shewmake rifled the Tribe back into the lead about 90 seconds later when he uncorked a 51-yard bomb to Chris Carpenter. Pina Sanchez converted and the Tribe was on top again, 22-20, with 7:59 to go in the third.

Neither side would find the endzone again in the third quarter. The final drama in this tight contest came with 8:43 to go in regulation when the Lions faced fourth down and five yards to go from the Tribe 15.

When Henderson lined up for the field goal attempt that would put them back up by one point, Jacksonville called a timeout in an attempt to “ice” the Lion kicker.

When play resumed, the Indians had twelve men on the field. The substitution penalty gave Henderson five yards and, most importantly, a first down. Two plays later, the Lions were celebrating a Jackson touchdown run of 10 yards.

Deleon was complete on his two-point conversion pass to give the Red & Blue the lead by the final margin of victory, 28-22.

Jacksonville now enters the bye week before District 9-5A-Division II play begins on Thursday night, September 27, when the Nacogdoches Golden Dragons come calling at Rose Stadium in Tyler.

The somewhat unusual scheduling is due to the Tribe sharing the facility with both John Tyler and Robert E. Lee this season. The Jacksonville vs. Nacogdoches contest will be the 2018 Homecoming game.