The Jackson Ironmen moved their record to 8-0 (3-0) in the FAC with a 48-19 victory over Miami Trace Friday night, holding the Panthers to only 12 total yards in the first half.
The Ironmen scored on three of their four first half possessions to start the game, the first was after a Panther punt, Jackson went on a four play 53 yard drive as Jayden Spires plunged in from two yards out, PAT was good to go up 7-0. They fumbled on their second possession of the night but the Panthers weren't able to capitalize as they had to punt again, a booming punt by Miami Trace kicker Justin Shoemaker that pushed Jackson back to their own three yard line. Jackson went on a 12 play 97 yard drive taking 4:13 off the clock as Spires ran in from three yards out to cap the drive, PAT was good, Jackson up 14-0. On Jackson's final drive of the half they went 66 yards in two plays and senior QB Jared Icenhower ran 48 yards for the score to put them up 21-0. Miami Trace did have a chance to score as time was expiring in the first half. They had first and goal from the six yard line with under 20 seconds remaining and was not able to punch the ball in the end zone on four attempts.
Jackson dominated the first half stats, they had 271 total yards, 210 on the ground and 61 through the air. Miami Trace had just 12 total yards, seven yards rushing and five yards passing.
The Panthers showed up with some life in the third quarter, forcing Jackson into their second turnover, a fumble on the opening drive of the quarter. Trace got the ball deep in Jackson territory and Jayden LeBeau rushed 19 yards for a score on the first play of the drive, getting more total yards on one carry than they had the entire first half. Jackson got the ball back and was forced to punt and Panther QB Dalton Mayer started to heat up finding Joshua Gilmore on a 45 yard pass then hitting Matthew Haddux on a 37 yard pass to get the Panthers in Jackson territory again. LeBeau ran in his second score of the night from five yards out, capping a seven play 82 yard drive that took 2:58 off the clock, both PAT's were no good and Jackson led 21-12 with less than seven minutes to play in the quarter. From then on it was all Jackson as they scored two touchdowns to close out the third quarter, then two more touchdowns in the fourth quarter. Trace was able to score once more in the game on an eight yard touchdown throw from Mayer to Gilmore. The final score was 48-19 and the Ironmen stay perfect on the season moving to 8-0 (3-0). Miami Trace falls to 5-3 (2-1).
On the night the Panthers totaled 208 yards, 196 in the second half, they had 99 yards rushing and 109 yards passing, they had one turnover, nine first downs and were penalized eight times for 45 yards.
Jackson had 348 yards rushing alone, 148 from senior running back Jayden Spires, 139 yards passing for a total yardage of 487. They had two turnovers, 17 first downs and were penalized nine times for 90 yards. Jackson takes their perfect record to Hillsboro next week to take on the Indians.