A sports story as old as time: a great defense versus a great offense.
That’s what fans at a packed Memorial Stadium were treated to on Friday, Dec. 18 in the GHSA Class 4A State semifinal game between No. 2 Jefferson and No. 4 Benedictine. It was an instant classic, although not the ending the host Cadets were hoping for.
Jefferson’s junior quarterback/safety Malaki Starks led his team to a 42-35 win over the Cadets in the Final 4 contest as Starks accounted for four rushing touchdowns, a passing score and a game-clinching interception. As the Cadets were trailing 42-35 with a minute to play and driving trying to tie the game inside of the Jefferson 15. Starks intercepted a Holden Geriner pass in the endzone to send Jefferson to the state championship game on Dec. 29 versus undefeated and No. 1 ranked Marist.
The game was the first ever meeting between the two schools, and it was all tied up at 28 heading into the fourth quarter. Jefferson (11-0) had a defense allowing just over seven points per game and the Cadet offense entered red-hot, averaging nearly 40 points per game.
Geriner found sophomore Zaquan Bryan on third-and-nine from the Jefferson 46. The touchdown gave Benedictine (9-3) an early 7-0 lead over the visiting Dragons, who committed six penalties in the opening quarter. Jefferson would answer later in the quarter when Starks scored on a short run around the edge. It would be a sign of things to come, as Starks dominated from start to finish.
Starks is a consensus 5-star recruit in the Class of 2022 as an athlete/safety but he was electric running the Dragon triple-option at quarterback. The first quarter TD was his 18th rushing score of the season as he racked up 141 first-half rushing yards against the BC defense.
It would stay locked at 7-7 until early in the second, when BC’s Justin Thomas scored on a two-yard run after a long Geriner completion to receiver Trent Broadnax. Geriner’s TD toss to Bryan was his 23rd of the season and Bryan’s fifth receiving score.
Jefferson defeated Carver-Columbus 28-22 last week. Carver is the school responsible for eliminating the Cadets’ Region 3-4A mate, Jenkins, in the first round. Benedictine beat Riverdale 48-13 last week at Memorial Stadium -- the program’s 600th win since 1908 (600-408-33).
With just over four minutes left before halftime, a BC punt was blocked and recovered at the Cadet 30. Jefferson took advantage, scoring from 23 yards out on a Kolton Jones outside run.
Geriner and the Cadet offense which entered scoring 39.7 points per game went back to work with the game tied at 14-14. The junior 3-star quarterback dropped back and threw a rocket-of-a-pass to Broadnax (a 2021 3-star signed with Duke) on a slant. The pass was dropped and popped straight up in the air where it was picked off by a diving Jordan Perry.
The interception was the junior Perry’s fifth of the year, and just the second thrown by Geriner. BC was able to hold defensively and the game was tied, 14-14 at the halftime break.
Broadnax made up for the drop in the first half by recovering a JHS fumble on the opening kickoff of the second half. And, on the very first play from scrimmage, BC took a 20-14 lead on a long pass from Geriner to Kam Edge. The Nick Dillon PAT was good and the Cadets held a 21-14 lead just eight seconds into the third quarter. But as they did the entire game, the Dragons answered a BC score with a TD of their own.
Starks rushed in from four yards for his second touchdown, and this one was a game-tying effort. Thomas put BC ahead 28-21 midway through the third on a 16-yard run, his second of the night. It came courtesy of a fake punt converted by junior linebacker Holden Sapp earlier in the drive.
The scoring in the third wasn’t done yet, however. Starks’ third running touchdown made it 28-28 and the score remained that way entering the fourth.
A long passing touchdown from Starks (his 11th of the season) on fourth-and-seven from the BC 25 put Jefferson up 35-28, but BC was able to answer on its very next drive. The Cadets converted a fourth down en route to an eventually game-tying TD. Thomas rushed in for his third score and the game was tied at 35-35 with six minutes to play.
Starks’ unbelievable 65-yard touchdown run gave the Dragons a 42-35 lead with 4:30 remaining.
JHS -- 7 - 7 - 14 - 14 -- 42
BEN -- 7 - 7 - 14 - 7 -- 35
RECORDS -- BEN 9-3; JHS 14-0.
Follow Travis Jaudon on Twitter @JaudonSports and contact him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Benedicitne Military School is supported by Optim Orthopedics. Dr. Sedory is Benedictine's team doctor. Always remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
