It’s the game no one was allowed to talk about, but everyone expected.
The Jayton Jaybirds and the Benjamin Mustangs will finally face off Friday in Hermleigh at 6 p.m. for the Texas State Quarterfinals Championship, though for many it feels more like a state championship game.
“We had been trying to keep our kids distracted from (thinking about Benjamin) all year long,” said Jayton head coach Josh Stanaland, “but we had a good feeling that this could happen. Our kids started July 31 with a goal to play in a state championship. Benjamin is the next thing that’s in our way.”
The Jaybirds have now officially earned the opportunity to face the Mustangs, having dismantled the Strawn Greyhounds Friday night 58-12 for the Area championship. Strawn definitely had the size advantage, but credit the Jaybirds’ toughness and technique for overcoming the mismatch.
“We talked about setting the tone and not letting somebody play bully-ball with us,” said Stanaland. “We’re gonna get outweighed by a lot of people but our kids play bigger than they are. They’re great in the weight room, they’re strong, they play with their hands really well.”
One group especially standing out on the night was the Jaybird defensive line. Stanaland noted, “You can’t say enough of about Colt [Gentry], Ayden [Salazar], and Justin [Collins]— those three guys just do a great job and then Jayce [Rivera] whenever we need him to. Everyone on that offensive line for them is well over 200 pounds and they want to fire out and come at you, so our kids have to be good with their hands and create separation. I was proud of them.”
The Jaybirds have spent twelve weeks taking care of business to obtain the right to play in the Division 2 six-man game of the year. The community and the coaching staff could not be prouder of their boys.
“Any time you get to be 12-0 and win the area championship and clinch that opportunity to have a Thanksgiving Day football practice, we’re fortunate. I’ll never bet against our kids, they’re competitors, they’re good on the big stage,” said Stanaland. “I wouldn’t trade our kids for anyone’s.”
- Log in or Subscribe to post comments.
