Thescheduleshowed Aspermont at 6-0 and Jayton at 3-3, but it took just one play to show that records can be deceiving.
After Aspermont’s opening possession ended in a turnover on downs, freshman quarterback Sean Stanaland (7 of 8 – 155yds, 2TD; 51 rushing) hit senior wide receiver Caleb Beck (2–60yds–2TD) for a beautiful 55-yard over-theshoulder touchdown. The Jaybirds would never look back, crushing the Aspermont Hornets 51–16 and putting the rest of the district on notice.
“It’s good to start district,” said head coach Stanaland “We talked all week about the tough schedule we had played in the pre-district, how iron sharpens iron, and how that had prepared us for this moment. Knowing that we were coming in and playing a team that is 6–0— Aspermont is a good football team, they’re big, they’re physical, their backs run hard, but our kids had something to prove tonight. With the first game of the district season, it was really important to start 1-0.”
Stanaland said he’s “really proud of how our kids played overall.”
The Jaybirds’ offense was a well-oiled machine, running and passing nearly at will. Running backs Jaydon Rivera (12–91yds) and Ayden Salazar (7–90 yds–3TD) led the way for a ground game that rushed for 250 yards overall.
The defense was a lethal combination of discipline and aggression. Stanaland noted, “I thought defensively, a lot of the night we took away the big play. We forced a couple of turnovers (Jarret Herzog with an interception and Jayce Rivera with a fumble recovery). Really, we were just sound and played hard with good discipline…their quarterback was constantly under duress, they were in his facemask all night long.”
Salazar and Beck harassed the Hornets quarterback every time he dropped back, ultimately sacking him for times.
Friday’s game was also the first time since the opener that the Jaybirds have had all their players healthy. When they field a full roster, sound, balanced, disciplined, aggressive football is what you get.
The Jaybirds next face the Guthrie Jaguars at home this Thursday night at 7:30.
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