Mansfield Summit 41-38 Red Oak
Despite being the fourth seed out of District 4-5A and only getting into the playoffs on a tiebreaker introduced due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Jaguars are now one of the final four teams left in the 5A Division I playoff bracket.
Summit looked to be in trouble down by ten with six minutes to go, but throughout the playoffs, the Jaguars have thrived in the underdog role.
First, Jalon Rock took a kickoff 72 yards to the house for his second kickoff return touchdown of the day to cut the Red Oak lead to 38-34 after a missed extra pint. Then after a Red Oak punt, the Jaguars went to work again, marching 54 yards to the Red Oak three yard line with just 34 seconds left. Quarterback David Hopkins did the rest, barreling in from three yards out to secure an improbable 41-38 victory.
The game started slow as it took the teams nearly the entire first quarter to put points on the board. It was Hopkins who drew first blood for the Jaguars as he hit his receiver D’Szarion Brown on a hitch route for a six-yard score with just nineteen seconds left in the quarter. Summit kept the momentum going and doubled its advantage midway through the second quarter after a bad snap on a Red Oak punt gifted Summit great field position, which allowed running back Jaydon Lott to score from three yards out for the Jaguars.
Down 14-0, Red Oak responded with two touchdowns, one on a six-yard pass from quarterback Joshua Ervin to tight end Jace Wyatt and another on a 20-yard run by Iverson Young, to knot the score at 14 at the break.
Summit started on top in the second half as Rock took the opening kickoff back 76 yards to restore his team’s advantage, but Red Oak answered as Ervin found a wide-open Wyatt for a 27-yard touchdown to cut the Summit lead to 21-20 after a missed extra point.
Undaunted, Summit answered with a 27-yard touchdown of its own just a minute later as Hopkins found his receiver Hal Presley down the seam to put the Jaguars up 28-20.
From there, Red Oak went on a run. First Young bulldozed his way into the end zone from one yard out before a catch on the two-point conversion by Raymond Gay on an out route tied the game just a minute after the Summit score. Then, the Hawks turned a Summit fumble into points as Ervin found La’Kelsey Johnson on another out route for a five-yard score to put Red Oak up 35-28 with two minutes left in the third quarter.
The Hawks would tack on a field goal after that, midway through the fourth quarter, after failing to convert in a goal-to-go situation before Summit’s heroics in the closing minutes clinched the Jaguars yet another upset victory.
The Jaguars will need yet another big upset next week if they are to play for a state title as they take on defending state runners-up Denton Ryan, but with the way this team has been rolling through higher seeds in the playoffs, Summit will believe it has a chance to defy the odds yet again.
Play of the Game: Down by two scores with six minutes left, Summit needed a quick score. Jaylon Rock delivered. He fielded a pooch kick, cut across the field, and outran Red Oak defenders up the sideline for a 72-yard score. That explosive play helped turn the tide and allowed for Summit to complete its comeback with Hopkins’ rushing touchdown as the seconds waned on the clock.
Rock’s 72-yard kickoff return touchdown (Courtesy of Juwan Davis): https://twitter.com/MrJDavis96/status/1345090086669574144
Player of the Game: CB Jaylon Rock- Rock was a playmaker throughout the contest on Friday, providing big plays when Summit needed it the most. He had a 76-yard kickoff return to open the third quarter after Red Oak had scored 14 unanswered to close the first half before adding his crucial 72-yard touchdown return in the final quarter. He also came up with an impressive bobbling interception in the second quarter, showcasing his knack for making game-changing plays all over the field.
