SAINT JO, Texas — Both Saint Jo and Throckmorton entered this game with a major goal in mind. For the Panthers, a win against Throckmorton would make noise in the six-man world, highlighting a four game win streak and their best start in seven years under first year head coach Derek Schlieve.
For Throckmorton, a win would give the Greyhounds back-to-back victories for the first time in two seasons, and perhaps begin a resurgence of a once dominant program.
In the end, it was the latter achieving their goal as Throckmorton spoiled Saint Jo’s homecoming with a 72-38 win at Harley Sewell Field.
(Blake Wood/Texas HS Football)
“We talked about taking care of business at halftime,” said Greyhound head coach Aaron Ashford. “Saint Jo was really coming in the first half, and they had a lot of momentum. We talked about what we did in the first half, and about doing that better in the second.”
The Greyhounds were greatly helped to win a game in which they never relinquished the lead from a dominant performance by Jarrett Wigington, accounting for all but two of Throckmorton’s touchdowns.
“I can’t give all the glory to me,” said the junior rusher. “I’d credit our offensive line, we worked on blocking and executed well.”
“Jarrett’s just a solid player,” said Ashford. “He’s our go-to on the offense, anything can happen when he touches the ball.”
It was indeed a scrappy first half, with 68 points shared between the two teams heading into the locker rooms. Throckmorton jumped out to an early 14-0 lead on a pair of rushes from Wigington, one from the first play from scrimmage, followed up three minutes later from the second.
(Blake Wood/Texas HS Football)
A penalty against the Greyhounds resulted in one second remaining on the clock to end the first half, and the Panthers capitalized with a successful Hail Mary attempt, bringing the score to within eight. However it was all Throckmorton in the second half, with the defense squelching Saint Jo’s momentum from that play.
In what may prove to have been the nail in the coffin for Saint Jo, the Panthers Mario Lopez bowled his way to the endzone, but the 5’10”, 200 pound junior lineman lost his grip just inside the endzone, with the Greyhounds recovering and forcing the touchback late in the game.
Preston Lyons led the Saint Jo offense on the night with nine completions for 97 yards and three touchdowns, all to Blake Anderson, and added 73 yards and a score on the ground — but it was the dazzling performance by Wigington which stole the show.
Saint Jo (4-2) will take their bye next week, in preparations to begin district 12-1A DI competition against Montague County rival Forestburg, who moved to 5-1 with a win over Savoy tonight.
Throckmorton (2-4) takes their win streak and newfound offensive dynamic into district 10-1A DII action next week, on the road for the third straight game in Aspermont.
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