All year long, it’s been the sensational Johnathan
Jackson who occupied many headlines in Wyandotte County based on his 17
touchdowns this season for the Bonner Springs Braves.
On Friday night in a crucial district contest
between the Braves and Schlagle Stallions, it was Jackson’s younger brother who
stole the show.
Sophomore Jordan Jackson delivered four touchdown passes
Friday night as the Braves defeated Schlagle 41-34 in one of the wildest
back-and-forth affairs Wyandotte County has seen this season.
In a game billed up as a showdown between Johnathan
Jackson and Schlagle’s J’veyon Browning, it was their teammates that
had success in the end-zone.
Johnathan Jackson got the night kicked off with a
17-yard touchdown in an impressive opening drive for the Braves.
Behind Schlagle’s strong running game, the Stallions
responded right back. Quarterback D.J. Sayles scored from one yard out to tie
the game. Schlagle took an 8-6 advantage following a two-point conversion from
Browning.
The two teams would alternate scores most of the
night.
Jordan Jackson delivered his first touchdown of the
night – this from five yards to Jared Knernschield.
The missed two-point
conversion left the score at 12-8.
Browning scored his only touchdown of the game on
Schlagle’s next possession. The Stallions leading scorer punched in his 18th
touchdown of the season from 10 yards out.
Jordan Jackson delivered once again late in the
first half. He connected on a 34-yard touchdown pass to Stevie Williams. The
wideout Williams made a beautiful over the shoulder catch to get into the
end-zone.
As Bonner found out, though, the Stallions could score
quickly.
In just a few minutes of game-time, Sayles rallied
his team and led the Stallions down the field for a late touchdown to give the
Stallions a 22-18 halftime lead.
While the two running backs did not find the
end-zone as much as they normally do on a Friday night, their value did not
diminish.
Johnathan Jackson was patient in the backfield and
waited for his blocks. He often ripped off nice runs and broke tackles doing
it.
Browning, meanwhile, again resembled Kansas City
Chiefs running back Jamaal Charles. Browning shifted many times in the
backfield to find space. He, at times, displayed a power running game and was
not afraid to take a hit.
But it was Jordan Jackson who stole the show in the
second half.
His four-yard touchdown pass to his brother
Johnathan gave Bonner Springs a 25-22 lead.
On Schlagle’s next possession, the biggest play of
the game occurred.
On a fourth down, Schlagle botched a punt attempt in
what appeared to be an effort by the Stallions to snap the ball when Bonner was
changing personnel. The Braves eventually switched the personnel, but the
horrible snap and ensuing tackle allowed the Braves to start their next drive
inside Schlagle’s 10.
Johnathan Jackson scored from three yards, putting
the first two-possession lead on the board.
The Stallions, down 33-22, came right back.
A great kickoff returned put the Stallions on Bonner
Springs’ 27-yard line. Two plays later, Sayles found Elijah Owens from 20 yards
out, leaving the game at 33-28 following the missed two-point attempt.
Enter the Braves sophomore quarterback one more time.
Jordan Jackson delivered his fourth touchdown of the
game, this time finding Monte Cox in the end zone from 24 yards. The lead
was 41-28 entering the fourth quarter.
However, the Stallions started to play great
defense.
They held Bonner Springs to no points in the fourth
quarter and kept the Stallions in the game long enough before Sayles found
Devante Clark from 15 yards out for his second touchdown pass of the game. The missed two-point conversion resulted in a 41-34 deficit.
In the final five minutes of the game, the Braves
attempted to give the game away on two plays.
A bad snap resulted in a recovered fumble for the
Stallions near the 50-yard-line. After Bonner’s defense held on that drive, the Stallions had one
more shot to tie the game.
On a 4th-and-22, a Bonner defender
inexplicably committed a 15-yard personal foul horse-collar tackle, meaning the
Stallions received a fresh set of downs.
It turned out only a few more downs needed to
determine the game. Sayles overthrew his wide receiver
and his pass was intercepted on Bonner's two-yard-line.
The loss leaves Schlagle at 6-1 on the season, while
Bonner Springs is 4-3.
The Stallions’ postseason hopes were dealt
a devastating blow with the loss. Schlagle, more than likely, needs to pull off the
upset against Lansing on the road next week in order to advance out of district
play.
