No. 4 Jefferson overcomes mistakes to whip Panthers, 34-7

JEFFERSON -- For all the talk of the Jefferson and Jackson County offenses coming into the two teams' Region 8-AAA opener Friday, it was the Dragons defense that actually stole the show.<br /> <br /> The Jefferson defense set the tone early for the Dragons' and sparked them to an impressive 34-7 win over the Panthers at Panthers Stadium.<br /> <br /> Class AAA fourth-ranked Jefferson (4-0, 1-0 Region 8-AAA) held the Panthers to just 23 total yards and one first down in the first half to compliment a balanced offensive attack. Jackson County (1-4, 0-1) had just one drive over three plays. Dual-threat quarterback Jacob Lewis was held to minus-9 yards rushing and just 22 yards passing as Jefferson built a 34-0 halftime lead.<br /> <br /> But despite what appeared to gaudy numbers, all Jefferson coach Ben Hall could see was one turnover on their opening drive, six penalties, and one missed extra point before halftime.<br /> <br /> The Dragons would finish with four turnovers and nine penalties on the night.<br /> <br /> "I thought our defense played real well against a quality offense," Hall said. "But at times it looked like we were coming off a bye week. We can't make that many mistakes and win very often. We have to clean that up as we move forward."<br /> <br /> More importantly for Hall, however, was getting a good start to the region.<br /> <br /> "The main thing is that we got a region win," Hall said. "It was a great crowd and atmosphere and despite a lot of mistakes we came out with a win against a good opponent."<br /> <br /> While the defense was shutting down a Panthers offense that came in averaging 25 points a game, the offense scored on five straight possessions to end the first half.<br /> <br /> Sammy Williams put on a clinic in the opening 24 minutes rushing for 141 yards and three touchdowns on 18 carries. Evan Shirreffs complimented Williams going 12-of-14 passing for 197 yards and two TD passes.<br /> <br /> The opening drive for the Dragons began with them moving to midfield but then Shirreffs got stripped and the Panthers recovered at their own 44. But the Jefferson defense displayed what was to come stopping Lewis on two straight runs, the second one on fourth down at the Dragons 48.<br /> <br /> Jefferson needed just three plays, capped by a 36-yard run from Williams for a 6-0 lead after a missed extra point with 9:22 left in the first quarter.<br /> <br /> The Dragons' defense would sack Lewis and force two incomplete passes on Jackson County's next drive and then Williams would account for 49 yards on the Dragons' next possession, including a 31-yard scamper for a 13-0 lead.<br /> <br /> Jackson County would get its only first down of the half on the following possession but two more incompletions and a penalty forced another punt. Jefferson answered with its first long drive of the game, 12-plays, 80-yards that overcame three penalties. Shirreffs would cap the drive with a beautiful 35-yard bomb to Dalton Hill on a third-and-20 for a 20-0 lead less than a minute into the second quarter.<br /> <br /> The Jefferson defense forced another three-and-out of the Panthers, including its third sack of Lewis, and Jefferson finished a quick four-play, 1:38 drive on Williams' third TD run of the half from 1-yard out to give the Dragons a 27-0 lead.<br /> <br /> Jefferson finished the second half with a 14-play, 81-yard drive that took over six minutes with Shirreffs and Hill connecting for a 1-yard TD pass with 16 seconds left for a 34-0 lead.<br /> <br /> With a running clock in the second half, Jackson County twice drove into Dragons territory but would be stopped on downs. The Panthers would avoid the shutout early in the fourth quarter when Lewis hit a streaking Chase Wester down the right sideline for a 75-yard touchdown pass to make it 34-7.<br /> <br /> Rodney Carr finished with four catches for 71 yards and T.J. Skelton had four catches for 64 yards for Jefferson. Hill had three receptions for 44 yards and two TDs, and Hunter Gatlin had one catch for 41 yards for the Dragons.<br /> <br /> Lewis finished with zero yards on nine carries and was 9-of-15 passing for 121 yards and one TD.<br /> <br /> <b>SCORING SUMMARY</b><br /> <b>Jefferson</b>......13....21....0....0 -- 34<br /> <b>Jackson Co.</b>.....0.....0....0....7 -- 7<br /> <br /> <b>First Quarter</b><br /> JEFF -- Williams 36 run (kick failed) 6-0, 8:11<br /> JEFF -- Williams 31 run (Lawson kick) 13-0, 5:14<br /> <br /> <b>Second Quarter</b><br /> JEFF -- Hill 35 pass from Shirreffs (Lawson kick) 20-0, 11:02<br /> JEFF -- Williams 1 run (Lawson kick) 27-0, 7:13<br /> JEFF -- Hill 1 pass from Shirreffs (Lawson kick) 34-0, 0:16<br /> <br /> <b>Fourth Quarter</b><br /> JC -- Wester 75 pass from Lewis (Tuggle kick) 34-7, 9:15