Canes storm Jay

By KEN BARNES

PG Sports Correspondent

Opening games usually serve as a reference point for the coaches and players; a barometer if you will for how much work is needed in certain areas to attain the necessary goals.

For Jay’s Royals, it wasn’t a matter of a lack of effort, desire, or hustle that spelled defeat Friday in the season opener at Merle V. North Stadium.

“Our coaches did a great job lining everybody up and getting everyone ready to play,” said Jay Head Coach Elijah Bell. “We’ve just got a long way to go.”

The 14-7 setback to the neighbors across the state line was a typical smash mouth affair, but the Flomaton Hurricanes got the better of it down the stretch to take the win.

Two fantastic goal lines stands kept Jay in the contest as the visitors threatened to ice the game early.

The Royals denied the Canes a “go-ahead” score early in the first period with the ball resting on the Jay 1. Jay slammed the door on fourth down and took over.

Jay’s only score started at that point as the Royals marched 99 yards in 15 snaps to pay dirt. From the Cane 3, quarterback Brandt Hendricks burrowed in to put Jay up, 6-0. Tyler DeGraaf added the point to make it 7-0 with 8:36 showing.

During the scoring drive Hendricks hit Dale Barlow with a 36 yard pass to put a charge into the Royals first touchdown opportunity.

Flomaton, led by all-purpose player Tony Ellis’ 164 yards on 23 carries, moved the ball from their own 23 to the Royals’ three, but the Jay defense rose to the occasion yet again and dissipated the Hurricane drive at the Royals two.

“Defensively, we held them in check,” said Bell. “Ellis is probably the best back we’ll face all year.”

The Canes knotted the score with 23 seconds left before halftime at 7-7.

Steven Brabham replaced Hendricks at the quarterback position as Hendricks apparently suffered a concussion before the end of the first half.

The second half wasn’t good to Jay as the Royals failed to sustain any momentum and punch on offense against an athletic Cane outfit.

Defensively, Jay was led by Rush Hendricks, Micah Owens, and Dustin James, while Jacob Boughton and Spencer Grey were doing their best to disturb the Hurricanes’ offense as they both spent quite a bit of the game in the backfield.

“Tonight Flomaton has a lot better football players than we did,” said Bell. “This was a character builder for us. I was proud of the effort…we didn’t get embarrassed.”

Across the sideline Flomaton Head Coach Doug Vickery was elated with his team’s play and intensity.

“This was a hard fought contest,” said Vickery. “There were some big hits tonight.

“We had some first half opportunities, but Jay came up big defensively. “This was a big win.”

Vickery could still be smarting from an 81 yards touchdown by Ellis in the first half that was called back due to a penalty.

Offensively, Jay posted 68 total yards, while Flomaton piled up 264.

This Friday the Royals will entertain Vernon at 7 p.m.