The Blue Devils of Jackson County football didn’t show their horns until the second half Friday night against the Cannon County Lions and for the second straight game and three out of their last four games dating back to last season, the Lions were again on the wrong end of the mercy rule as Jackson dominated quarters 3 and 4 to extend a 13-0 halftime lead to a 47-0 win. With throwback jersey’s on, Cannon started the game once again with promise after an opening drive took seven and a half minutes of the first quarter. They came up empty on the scoreboard as Livia Walker missed a difficult to make field goal that would have given the Lions the first score of the game. The defense though made it difficult for Jackson to move the football as well. Jackson’s first break of the game came on Cannon’s second possession when the Lions fumbled the football and the Blue Devils recovered near midfield. 9 plays later Jackson County hit paydirt when running back Colby Long scored the first of his four touchdowns of the night at Jackson led 7-0. Next possession Jackson would score on a pass play and lead at half 13-0. The second half Jackson County turned the heat up several notches. After starting the half recovering an Cannon County onside kick attempt in great field position, Long only needed four touches of the football to make the score 21-0. Then Cannon County decide to take a gamble. After going what looked to be four and out of the next possession, a fake punt was called on the Cannon County 34 yard line, the ball was fumbled and recovered at the Cannon County 19. One play later Long scampered the 19 yards for his third touchdown of the night making it 27-0. The miscues didn’t stop there as on the ensuing kickoff, the Lions fumbled that ball and the Blue Devils recovered and scored on a 9 play 4th and goal at the 6 situation. The Lions didn’t want to stop giving the Blue Devils gifts on the kickoffs. Moments later yet another fumble was picked up and run into the endzone giving Jackson County at 40-0 lead in the third quarter. Cannon was only able to touch the ball offensively for 9 plays in the entire second half. The final touchdown of the game came in the fourth quarter with 1:44 to play to make the final score 47-0. The Lions collected 45 yards on the ground and 110 yards through the air. They gave up 275 yards rushing and 68 yards passing. Fundamental tackling and conditioning seemed to once again be the big issues for the Cannon County Lion defense in giving up that much yardage and points to another 1-A football team. Next week it’s on the road to Altamont for the first region contest of the schedule at Grundy County Stats:
Cannon County Rushing 16 carries for 45 yards one lost fumble
Passing: 9-15 for 110 yards and one interception
Rushing Leader Austin Brock 10 carries for 33 yards
Reception Leader: Bo Bryson 6 catches for 73 yards
