Indians fall to Dragons 45-41

The Jacksonville Fightin’ Indians and Nacogdoches Golden Dragons football series has been long known for wild finishes and lots of scoring, especially in recent years. Thursday night’s latest edition, the Jacksonville homecoming game, was no exception as both teams visited the endzone frequently. Unfortunately for the massive Jacksonville crowd on hand for the celebration, it was the Dragons who survived with the 45-41 victory.

Prior to kickoff, the JHS fans were treated to all the pomp and pageantry of the Homecoming court presentation. Senior Hailee Castillo was named queen, while senior football lineman Jeremiah Neal took the crown as king. The lights and sounds of the East Texas State Fair provided a unique backdrop for the game between two teams who normally don’t find themselves in Smith County for games in late September.

The game itself was reminiscent of the fair, with both teams lighting up the scoreboard like a midway game and momentum swinging wildly back-and-forth like a tilt-a-whirl. The teams would combine for more than 20 points in each quarter but the fourth. Nac got the scoring started with a field goal in the first before Jacksonville used the speed of TCU-bound Deshawn McCuin to race to the lead for the first time. McCuin would add the next score of the stanza for good measure, as well. Both extra points were off the mark. Nac’s Jake Smith would uncork a 45-yard scoring strike for the last touchdown of the frame. With the extra point, the score stood at 13-10 in favor of the Blue and Gold after one.

The shootout continued in the second, when Jacksonville’s Tristen Shewmake found sophomore Joydasion Thompson for an eight-yard score (converted by Alejandro Pina-Sanchez) and the 20-10 lead. Nac struck the next two times, on the ground through Camorian Thacker and with another Smith bullet pass to one of his plethora of receivers, this time Jatavious Deckard, for a 24-20 Golden Dragons lead as the buzzer sounded for halftime.

After the break, it was time for the Fightin’ Indian defense to make another highlight play as they’ve seemingly been doing all season so far. Just when it looked as though Nac would score to extend its lead, a big hit caused Thacker to cough up the ball at the Tribe four-yard line. JHS senior linebacker T.J Ratliffe wasted no time scooping the fumble and bolting 96 yards for a score at the other end. With the extra point, the Tribe again led by three. Nac’s Terrance Swindle and Jacksonville’s McCuin then traded rushing touchdowns again before Smith’s arm gave Nac the final score of the third. When the dust cleared, the Dragons clung to a 38-34 lead heading into the final quarter.

The Deshawn McCuin highlight reel just kept rolling, as the Tribe star hauled in a 55-yard pass from Shewmake to score just nine seconds into the fourth. The Pina-Sanchez conversion gave the Indians a 41-38 lead to defend. Not to be outdone, however, Smith would hit Cristin Diaz for the game-winning touchdown just over a minute later. The Tribe’s offense stalled the rest of the way, with Nacogdoches claiming the important victory in the district opener for both teams.

Despite the high scoring momentum-filled game, the Jacksonville defense had bright spots yet again, in addition to the Ratliffe score. The defense recovered three Nac fumbles and turned them all into points, in addition to intercepting Smith once.

Shewmake was 8 of 21 for 156 yards and two scores through the air. McCuin added 124 all-purpose yards to go with his scores.

On Friday night, the Indians travel to Whitehouse to battle the Wildcats in the second game of District 9-5A-Division II play. The Wildcats were big winners over Mt. Pleasant in their district opener Friday night.