A year ago, the Jenkins football team might have been underestimated by postseason opponents.
The Warriors were 3-7 in the regular season, a No. 4 seed. Yet they made a lot of noise in the GHSA Class 5A playoffs, knocking off Arabia Mountain and Dutchtown in tight games before falling to Cartersville in the state quarterfinals.
This year, the word is out on Jenkins, which moved to Class 3A and went 8-2 in the regular season and 8-1 in Region 3-3A, with an overtime loss to region champion Calvary Day.
The Warriors opened the 2024 playoffs on Friday night, taking control early in a decisive 28-14 first-round victory over Northwest Whitfield at Memorial Stadium.
Jenkins displayed its well-rounded team with a ball-control offense guided by quarterback Demetrius Holloway, a hard-hitting defense, and solid special teams. The Warriors have now outscored opponents 454-176.
They're not sneaking up on anyone.
"They know who we are and we know who we are, and we have to get better in things," Jenkins coach Tony Welch said after the game. "We have to work on us. (If) we take care of us, we'll be fine."
The Warriors advanced to a second-round matchup on Nov. 22 at Stephenson, which eliminated Whitewater 44-37 on Friday.
Northwest Whitfield -- which traveled to Savannah from Tunnel Hill near the Tennessee border --- was kept off the scoreboard until two touchdowns in the fourth quarter. The Bruins (8-3) failed to take advantage of an early turnover and missed a field goal at the end of the first half, but the game was more about what the Warriors were doing.
"They're having to deal with everything." As Coach Welch said, we're good at all three phases." Senior defensive and offensive lineman Isaac Smith said, referring to the offense, defense, and special teams. "We've got to keep executing and playing as a team, and we'll be great. A state championship, that's all we're looking for, that's the goal."
Jenkins was ready for a fast start, taking the opening kickoff and driving to the 50 on five running plays. On fourth-and-2, running back Ryan Scott had the first down and then some, fighting for extra yards to the Northwest Whitfield 34.
However, it was ruled that Scott fumbled, a call with which Welch vehemently disagreed, and he let the officiating crew know it. The Bruins, meanwhile, had possession.
"(Scott) was down, the whistle was blown and everything, and they give the ball up," Welch said before adding what would be a familiar refrain in his postgame interview. "We got out here with a win and we're happy to do that and move on to the next round."
After the Warriors forced a three-and-out, they brought the next drive to fruition on Trenton Rhodes' 26-yard dash to the left, then two quick cuts to the end zone with 7:20 remaining in the first quarter.
Smith recovered a fumble near the close of the quarter, but the offense couldn't convert. The Bruins had the next best chance to score when junior quarterback Gavin Nuckolls continued to be his team's most dangerous weapon, being a scrambler, a runner by design, and occasionally a passer.
"He's a crafty, smart player," Smith said of Nuckolls. "They run a lot of zone (offense) and he likes to pull it (and run with the ball). The focus this week was containing the outside, making sure he doesn't run."
Nuckolls connected with wide receiver Akendris Douglas on a 19-yard pass to the 6 before the defense stood tall and forced a 32-yard field-goal attempt, which missed on the last play of the first half.
Jenkins made a defensive stop on the opening drive of the third quarter and took advantage of a short field after a strong punt return. The Warriors drove from their 45, Holloway patiently finding J'Viauhn Belton for 12 yards on the first play.
Six running plays later, Holloway rolled well to his right and connected with Belton, who was keeping pace with him but from the end zone for a 9-yard touchdown. Joshua Woodley's second extra point made it 14-0 with 6:50 left in the third quarter.
Northwest Whitfield looked like it was going to respond and get within one score, only to fall further behind. The Bruins were driving behind Nuckolls' ability to run for solid yardage, but on a pass play, he faced heavy pressure and let go a floater, which was gathered in by Warriors senior defensive back Malik Mobley, who perfectly executed a Pick-6 down the sideline for 21-0 with 2:53 left in the third quarter.
"That's my guy," said teammate Smith, who had a Pick-6 one week earlier in the regular-season finale, a 64-16 win over Windsor Forest. "I grew up with Malik. I always wanted to see him win."
Smith said that senior Reico Collins provided the pass rush that hurried Nuckolls.
"He's my guy, too," Smith said. "All of us grew up together."
Northwest Whitfield closed to 21-6 on Caden Ramsey's 4-yard run, and Jenkins appeared to get a hand on the missed extra-point attempt with 9:08 left in regulation.
Jenkins covered the onside kick and drove the short field on a 52-yard series culminated by Holloway's play-action pass to Domonique Johnson on a post pattern.
When Johnson leaped to snag the ball under tight coverage for a 31-yard touchdown, Welch exclaimed, "Big-time catch! Big-time catch!"
The 28-6 lead was thinned to 28-14 when Nuckolls connected with Douglas for an 11-yard score and then a two-point conversion pass to Cal Manning with 4:22 left in the fourth quarter.
The Bruins' onside kick went out of bounds. Jenkins then handed the ball to trusted sophomore running back Scott on six consecutive plays.
"He ran the ball hard," Welch said of Scott. "He's a good runner. We got top backs. If one's not going, we've got others who can go. He always steps up because he gets the tough yards."
The Warriors reached the 1-yard line, where they took a knee and ran out the clock. Welch later told his team there was no point in scoring late with the game in hand. The point was getting the win and advancing to the second round.
Welch expressed frustration in a postgame interview with the officiating, such as the first fumble, saying he understands that everyone has flaws, but he expects a fair game.
"We played hard. We played well in all phases," Welch said. "We did well enough to move on and get ready for next week. We've got some stuff to work on, but overall, I'm proud of our guys, I'm proud of the effort and I'm proud of them staying focused and playing through a lot of controversial calls and no-calls. We're just glad we got the 'W' and are moving on to next week."
|
JENKINS 28, NORTHWEST WHITFIELD 14 |
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| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | F | |
| NORTHWEST WHITFIELD | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 14 |
| HV JENKINS | 7 | 0 | 14 | 7 | 28 |
| First Quarter | |||||
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HVJ—Trenton Rhodes 26 run (Joshua Woodley kick) |
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| Third Quarter | |||||
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HVJ—J’Viauhn Belton 9 pass from Demetrius Holloway (Woodley kick) |
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HVJ—Malik Mobley 59 interception return (Woodley kick) |
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| Fourth Quarter | |||||
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NW—Caden Ramsey 4 run (kick failed) |
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HVJ—Domonique Johnson 31 pass from Holloway (Woodley kick) |
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NW—Akendris Douglas 11 pass from Gavin Nuckolls (Cal Manning pass from Nuckolls) |
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Records—Northwest Whitfield 8-3, Jenkins 9-2 |
GHSA/SCISA FINAL PLAYOFF SCORES
Round One
GHSA 5A
East Paulding 52, Effingham 14
GHSA 4A
Benedictine 35, SW Dekalb 13
GHSA 3A
Jenkins 28, NW Whitfield 14
GHSA Private
Sav Country Day 23, Mount Vernon 17
Calvary - Bye
Savannah Christian - Bye
SCISA AA Semi-finals
Bethesda 38, Calhoun 21
Photo Credit: Courtsey Nathan Dominitz for the Prep Sports Report
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