Viking Defense Makes Late Stop To Start 1-0

Cyron Stamper (4). Photos by Jeff Steers, JTV Sports.

David Rice | JTV Sports

Friday August 30th

(8-30-2024, 11:20PM): A back and forth game between both offenses ends in a forced fumble by the Vikings defense to hold onto a season opening road victory at Monroe on Friday night.

Jackson opened the game forcing a three-and-out by the defense, who would step up again later on. It became the Stamper show on offense for the majority of the contest for the Vikings. 

Blair Pippen made an eight yard reception on the opening drive followed by a 12-yard rush to set up the first red zone opportunity. QB Cyron Stamper capped it off with a five-yard keeper to make it 8-0. Monroe WR Julian Espinoza-Saucedo went to work right away to try to respond, making a 31-yard reception for the Trojans. That play set up a 17-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Harvell to tie it at 8-8 after the opening quarter.

The Trojan defense opened the second quarter forcing a turnover on downs by Jackson. Cole Smith ran for 22 yards followed by a 35-yard reception for Espinoza-Saucedo to set up a 1-yard TD to give Monroe a 15-8 lead with 6:47 to play in the first half. Jackson used the remaining clock to create big offensive plays, including a 20-yard QB keeper from Stamper, a 15-yard rush from Blair Pippen, and a 24-yard run by Zyair Simpson. That helped set up another QB keeper touchdown from Stamper to make it 15-14 Monroe at the half.

Jackson opened the second half with a bang as QB Cyron Stamper used his speed on a 71-yard TD to give the Vikings a 20-15 lead in just over two minutes. Tackles for loss by Shea Haehnle and Charles Johnson on defense forced a turnover on downs and gave them the ball back. 15 rushing yards on the drive from Kardair Sumner helped set up another QB touchdown from Stamper to make it a 26-15 Jackson lead. Stamper would come out of the game late in the third quarter due to an injury.

Monroe responded back with a 17-yard run from QB Collin Steele to set up a rushing TD for Espinoza-Saucedo to make it a 26-21 contest after three quarters. 

Pippen extended the lead again for Jackson with a 37-yard TD run to make it a 32-21 game with seven minutes to play. Monroe wasn’t done yet, they responded again with a 37-yard bomb to Brendan Bacon in the end zone to make it 32-27. 

In the end, it was the Jackson defense who made another key play to hang on. After a turnover on downs by the offense, that gave Monroe 45 seconds left in regulation with no timeouts. 

Kenyon Dunklin and Shea Haehnle delivered a monster hit on Monroe QB Collin Steele to force a fumble recovered by the Vikings defense, as Jackson wins it late 32-27 to begin 1-0.

“I’m really proud of (Daniel) Eubanks for coming in to replace Cyron (Stamper), do his job, put the team on his back, and finish this game for us” said Jackson Coach Antonio Parker. Jackson starts 1-0 and will face Lansing Waverly next Friday with live coverage beginning at 6:45pm on JTV.

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