CAIRO — Good defense and a running game travels well.
Jefferson football proved it on Friday, grinding its way past Cairo 17-13 in Cairo to claim a Class AAAA quarterfinal victory.
Colby Wood scored with 17 seconds remaining to lift the Dragons (12-1) past the Syrupmakers and into the state semifinals for the first time since 2012.
Their reward is a rematch with Thomson, which cruised past Spalding 30-7 in its quarterfinal. Jefferson suffered its only loss of the season to the Bulldogs on Sept. 2 -- but the Dragons defense could be an equalizing factor this time around.
Jefferson stuffed Cairo throughout on Friday, yielding 193 total yards, and just one touchdown -- and that came on a halfback pass in the first quarter. Thanks to the Dragon's determination -- and that ground game -- it was not enough to pull away.
Hayden Kilgore got the visitors on the scoreboard, drilling a 25-yard field goal with 10:38 left in the first half to make it 7-3. The Syrupmakers got a field of their own before the interval to take a 10-3 lead, but the Dragons stayed on their heels and knotted the score with 3:40 left in the third quarter, as Colby Clark found tight end Garmon Randolph for a 26-yard touchdown.
Cairo pulled back ahead with another field goal, but it proved too small a cushion for the Syrupmakers.
Wood pounded his way to 104 yards rushing on 20 carries -- but his final carry proved sweetest, as the junior powered into the end zone from three yards to give Jefferson it's first and lasting lead at 17-13.
It was part of a 158-yard rushing performance for the Dragons, who also got 44 yards on nine carries from Zack Boobas. Clark also completed 2 of 5 passes for 56 yards, as Jefferson managed 214 total yards in the defensive slugfest.
Now the Dragons get another shot at Thomson -- and a chance to show how good that defense and run game are one more time (at least).
