The Jayton Jaybirds faced an uphill battle last Friday night, with the Motley County Matadors bringing back five starters from a team that made the state final last year. Several media outlets and fans from all over the area were in attendance to see a #2-in-the state Motley County team that many had picked to beat Jayton handily.
Obviously the final score proved that the Jaybirds weren’t listening to the experts. Following a monster game from running back and a strong defensive effort in the second half, the Jaybirds captured the region 2 district 7 championship in front of their home crowd.
The win did not come easily. The Jaybirds were forced to full themselves out of an early hole, going into the second quarter losing 22–6.
Pecos Smith, who accounted for nine total touchdowns, proved that his dominance all season has not been a fluke. He rushed in four touchdowns for 209 yards, threw four touchdowns for 166 yards, and returned a late interception to seal the win for Jayton.
While Smith played his heart out all night, other Jaybirds played a key role in the big district upset. Senior Tripp Scott converted seven PAT attempts that proved to be crucial towards the Jayton victory. His kickoffs continually landed behind the end zone, making returns impossible for the Matadors.
Sophomore Nathaniel Williams hauled in two touchdowns for the Jaybirds. His last touchdown came on a on a 4th-and-long when Smith connected to Williams, who stayed in bounds and crossed the line in the end zone.
Senior Mason Long scored on a deep touchdown pass from Smith. His most impressive reception happened late in the game when he gained over 15 yards after contact while dragging several defenders behind him.
Junior Quarterback Joel Williams did not throw a pass, but provided several key blocks to help get Smith loose on long runs. Williams also recovered two onside kick attempts from the Matadors.
The Jaybird defense made the difference in the victory. The defensive line made adjustments in the second quarter to dominate the rest of the game. Senior Devon Jones led Jaydon with 15 tackles and recovered a fumble in the third quarter, when he ripped the ball out of the hands of the Matador running back. On the next drive, sophomore Kaden Valerio, who had 12 tackles, also forced a fumble that was recovered by Scott. The rest of the Jaybird defense played exceptionally well, led by Smith, Long, Scott, and Caleb Valerio.
When the game was over, head coach Josh Stanaland, who has gotten to enjoy his twin sons Carson and Colton serving as ball boys on the sideline, was elated with the way his squad responded to adversity.
“This win ranks right up there for my career,” said Stanaland. “To beat the number two team in the state in front of our home fans is very special. I am so proud of these boys for fight ing all season.”
The playoffs will begin on Thurs., Nov. 12 in Knox City against Chillicothe at 7:30 p.m. While the district championship is enjoyable, the Jaybirds have high expectations to make a lot of noise in November.
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