JENNINGS – Mud might have caked the Many football jerseys and the bus ride home after a three-hour trip Friday, but the Tigers didn’t slop around with Jennings in the jamboree.
Many dominated the host in a 27-0 win in just a half of football in the last preseason tune-up before the regular season.
“The field conditions weren’t ideal – it was like we’re playing in a sea of oatmeal and quicksand,” said Many coach Jess Curtis. “We were sloppy in some areas, and the conditions neutralized both teams’ speed somewhat, but we worked really hard all week on ball security and making sure that we didn’t have any turnovers.
“We didn’t have any, and they had four or five, and that was really the difference in the game.”
Heavy rain throughout the week drenched the field at Simmons Stadium, favoring the run-heavy Many squad.
Many’s Keaton Williams started the defensive standout performance by forcing a fumble that the Tigers turned into a touchdown.
Six plays and 38 yards later, Many scratched the scoreboard with an 11-yard Jeremiah James touchdown run capped with a Deacon Lafollette extra point with three minutes left in the first quarter.
“We’re expecting big things from the defense this year, and we have a lot of seniors that were starters two seasons ago on that 2020 state championship team and again on the 2021 runner-up team,” Curtis said. “We return 10 of 11 starters from a season ago, and we’re expecting them to be one of the strongest parts of our team.
“We’re fast, and we turn people over, Then we let our offense go to work grinding the clock.”
The Tigers cashed in on another Jennings fumble with a 4-yard James touchdown run to highlight a 31-yard drive. James finished the night with three scores.
Many added two more touchdowns after halftime to pull away.
Set up by a long kickoff return by Jayvion Smart to start the second half, Jamarlyn Garner punched in a 1-yard run to put Many up 20-0.
The Tigers added their final score after a third Jennings fumble. Many marched 62 yards in 12 plays with a third James touchdown run, this one a 1-yard plunge.
Many piled up 193 yards (all rushing) of offensive while the Tigers ironclad defense held Jennings to juts 46 yards.
“We’ve got a good group of backs that moves of chains but are also capable of making the big play,” Curtis said. “We’re excited about what our offense can be, and even though we’ve lost some good running backs through the years, we keep producing good backs.
“Jeremiah James started last year, and along with Trent Williams and Garner, we’ve got another good group. Garner was a defensive back last year, but he’s been a tremendous running back so far, and we’ve liked what we’ve seen in the first two outings.”
Many starts its official regular season next week when Sam Houston visits.
Scoring Summary:
First quarter
3:07 Jeremiah James –11 yard run (Lafollette kick) 7-0
0:24 James – 4 yard run (Lafollette kick) 14-0
Second Quarter
8:37 Jamarlyn Garner 1 yard run (kick blocked) 20-0
1:16 James 1 yard run (Lafollette kick) 27-0
Rushing:
Jamarlyn Garner 13-91, 1 TD
Jeremiah James 13-64, 3 TD’s
Trevor McLendon 1-19
Kentravious Maxie 4-16
Tackett Curtis 3-3
Leading Tackler:
Jayvion Smart 3
Tylen Singleton 3
PHOTO: Darrin Dyess
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