ROSSVILLE — Jefferson football coach Gene Cathcart told anyone who would listen last week that there was absolutely nothing wrong with his Dragons team.
You think the rest of Class AAAA is listening now?
Second-seeded Jefferson certainly made a loud and purposeful statement on Friday, scoring four straight touchdowns to grab a lead it would not relinquish in a 28-21 second round playoff defeat of No. 2-ranked Ridgeland in Rossville.
The Dragons (10-2) notched their fourth trip to the state quarterfinals courtesy stout defensive play and perhaps Bryce Moore's biggest performance of his varsity career.
The senior quarterback completed 11 of 19 passes for 159 yards and three touchdowns, hooking up with Zac Corbin for all three scores. Corbin excelled on both sides of the ball, catching six passes for 117 yards while also making 10 tackles, eight solo stops, on defense. Colby Clark and Blake Ehl also racked up 10 tackles apiece, while Kade McNally and Terrell Wall each picked off Ridgeland passes, Wall's essentiall sealing the game late in the fourth quarter.
Justin Cole also had a 16-yard touchdown run for the Dragons, who fell behind 14-0 only to storm in front 28-14. Ridgeland pulled within 28-21 in the fourth quarter but could not pull even with a determined Dragons squad.
Colby Wood rushed for 73 yards on 20 carries but also ripped off long kickoff returns of 46 and 73 yards to help set up scoring drives.
Jefferson travels to face Region 2-AAAA champ Mary Persons in the state quarterfinals.
