First Financial Bank First Flash – Jackets shrug off early mess, begin Statement Tour with authority

Stephenville bi-district win 111717 — Stephenville begins its "Statement Tour" with a new gold ball following Friday's stretch of 45 unanswered points to eliminate Sanger and book a date with Pampa next week. || The Flash Today / RUSSELL HUFFMAN

By BRAD KEITH
TheFlashToday.com

SAGINAW (November 17, 2017) — Stephenville withstood an early trick play, reminiscent of its game against Snyder two weeks prior, except this time it came on the first play from scrimmage.

Then the Yellow Jackets withstood the one drive’s worth of confidence that play provided the Indian offense.

And before long, Sanger’s playoff magic had run its course, and everyone remembered who the better team is. And, no doubt, there was a clear-cut better team at Roughrider Stadium, as runs of 45 unanswered points tend to suggest.

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Stephenville trusted the system, stayed focused and took care of business. The Yellow Jackets could have let a 84-yard hitch and pitch, hook and “ladder” or lateral, whatever your choose to call it on the first play from scrimmage set them on a negative trajectory that gets favored teams into dog fights in games such as this.

Instead, a focused Yellow Jacket team went right down the field and scored.

When the fourth quarter arrived, that improved defense put the game away like this: Cole Pettit. Pick 6. A week after he said the revenge tour was complete with the capturing of he District 3-4A Division I championship, and the Statement Tour was jus getting started the Jackets set out to remind everyone they still have

All Stephenville, 52-13, with 45 unanswered points. One Sanger first down in the second half, and that was on a penalty. Thirteen. Yes, 13. Sanger’s total yardage in the second half.

A statement indeed.

One we can surmise in this week’s First Financial Bank First Flash, that was made by staying focused, trusting the system, brushing off early trickery and remembering two things that were never going to change: Football game’s last 48 minutes, not just one play…and the Jackets were the superior team.

We can also surmise this is one heckuva Stephenville defense.

The Jackets’ reward?

Turkey week football, with their first post Thanksgiving game since 2014 set for 6 p.m. next Friday at Wichita Falls ISD Memorial Stadium against panhandle bi-district winner Pampa.

Want a First Financial Bank First Flash prediction?

Stephenville 42, Pampa 14. Of course, that’s as long as the Jackets stay focused again.

Another statement’s coming, because the Jackets are a rollin’.