With 1:17 remaining in the third quarter and star North Pike defensive end A.J. Jefferson sent to the bench for a series for using a few too many choice words, Wesson tailback Steve Jones crashed into the end zone to give the Cobras an 19-18 lead over the Jaguars.
It was an auspicious turn of events for a North Pike team trying to find itself after a 23-8 loss to Franklin County last week. However, North Pike quickly bounced back en route to a 32-19 win.
A mere 41 seconds after giving up the lead, Jaguars quarterback Jerome Brown connected with a streaking Lakedric Lee on a 70-yard touchdown strike to put North Pike ahead for good with 38 seconds remaining in the quarter.
“It was a big play. We saw that the secondary was cheating on (running back Travez) Taylor’s side,” said North Pike coach Chris Smith. “We saw it the first half and said, ‘We’ll make a big play after halftime on this.’ That was a good time to pull it out.”
Jalen Jackson followed with a 2-point conversion to make it 26-19.
Taylor sealed the win with a 59-yard touchdown run with 4:14 remaining in the contest to put the Jaguars ahead 32-19. He finished with 110 yards on 14 carries, four touchdowns and a 2-point conversion.
The win was a confidence booster for a North Pike team working to return to last year’s form, when the Jaguars won the Class 4A South State Championship. After his team bounced back from last week’s loss, Smith said he saw improved play from his team Friday.
“It’s very important to have big improvement from the first game to the second game,” Smith said. “We challenged the kids to step it up.”
Play at the quarterback position was also markedly improved Friday night as Brown finished 7-of-11 for 188 yards and a touchdown.
The Jaguars are still trying to find their man at the position, as Brown, Austin Smith and Jermon Jordan each picked up their share of snaps throughout the game. They combined to go 3-of-16 with 50 yards last week.
“We knew each of the quarterbacks was going to do things a little better than the others in some areas,” Smith said. “We want one of those young guys to come on and take the job. They’re getting more confident.”
The Jaguars got on the board early, with Taylor picking up his first score on an 8-yard run to cap an 8-play, 73-yard drive. The extra point was blocked, and North Pike led 6-0 with 8:56 remaining in the first quarter.
The Cobras took their first lead on an unusual play early in the second quarter. Wesson quarterback Jacob Fisher scrambled 16 yards before fumbling at the North Pike 1-yard line.
Wesson tailback Austin Graham fell on the loose ball — much to the home crowd’s chagrin — in the end zone to give Wesson a 7-6 lead with 10:34 left in the quarter.
North Pike quickly returned fire, as Laronte Lee used a 54-yard kickoff to help Taylor pick up his second touchdown on a 1-yard plunge to make it 12-7 North Pike.
