Jones
busted touchdown runs of 45 and 28 yards for the only scores in Silver Lake’s
14-0 victory. The big plays sparked a season-best and career-high 158-yard
night and a stout defensive performance pushed the No. 3 Eagles to 5-0.
“I just tried to make the most of it when I get it,” Jones said.
“I run when I get it and try to score as much as I can.”
Scoring was
at a premium Friday night as both teams delivered defensively. Silver Lake
generated 408 yards of total offense, but saw two turnovers and 110 yards in
penalties negate much of the work. Rossville, meanwhile, managed only 191 total
yards and never got inside the Silver Lake 20.
Twice in the second half, however, the Bulldawgs came close.
Down 6-0 at halftime after Jones’ 45-yard score with 3:13 left in the first
half, Rossville opened the second half with its best drive of the game, moving
from its own 25 to the Silver Lake 21.
But on a first down at the 21, Sheldon Hulbert was picked off by
Silver Lake’s Keenan Baird at the 3, denying the threat.
It was the first of three big defensive stops by Silver Lake in
the second half.
On Rossville’s next possession, the Bulldawgs faced a
fourth-and-inches at the Silver Lake 38, but Hulbert was stopped for no gain.
After Jones scored with 4:57 left in the game on a 28-yard run, Rossville tried
to get a quick answer, driving to the Silver Lake 26.
But the Eagles forced four straight incomplete passes from
Hulbert to thwart the threat and seal the win.
“What I was impressed with was Rossville got off to a pretty
good start and got some offensive rhythm and we responded to that,” Silver Lake
coach C.J. Hamilton said. “We got hit in the mouth a little bit and I thought
we turned it up pretty good from there.”
Despite
moving the ball well in spurts, Rossville never could quite make the one play
it needed to break the ice. The shortcomings spoiled a solid defensive effort
that saw the Bulldawgs bend plenty, but only break twice on the big runs by
Jones.
“I’m proud of my group because I thought we played hard and
executed what we wanted to do for most of the night,” Rossville coach Derick
Hammes said. “The game in my view came down to a couple of missed plays which
were opportunities for us. Our margin for error is not great, so we needed a
break and make a play on a couple occasions. We made some huge strides
defensively, we possessed the ball and were able to execute some things, but
couldn’t punch it in the end zone when we needed to.”
Mason Griffin threw for 155 yards for Silver Lake, while Hulbert
finished with 164 combined rushing and passing yards.
Rossville (1-4) 0 0 0 0 — 0
Silver Lake (5-0) 0 6 0 8 — 14
SL — Jones 45 run (kick failed)SL — Jones 28 run (Baird pass from Griffin)
GAME IN FIGURES
… Ross … SL
First downs … 13 … 18
Rushes-yards 32-105 … 33-253
Passing … 86 … 155
Comp-Att-Int 12-29-2 14-25-1
Punts … 5-30.6 … 5-30.6
Fumbles-Lost … 0-0 … 1-1
Penalties-Yards 5-33 … 11-110
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING — Rossville: Daughty 2-1, Hulbert 22-78, Johnson 4-10,
Sowers 4-6. Silver Lake: Jones 17-158, Griffin 7-11, Byers 4-29, Baird 1-6, J.
Boyd 4-49.
PASSING — Rossville: Hulbert 12-29-2, 86 yards. Silver Lake:
Griffin 14-25-1, 155 yards.
RECEIVING — Rossville: Daughty 4-23, Blair 2-5, Carver 3-18, Johnson
1-6, Sowers 3-28, Sumner 1-6. Silver Lake: Byers 5-46, Byrne 3-41, Heiman 5-64,
Baird 1-4.
QB Sheldon Hulbert looking for an opening in the defense at Silver Lake
Sheldon trying to evade pass rush
Sheldon passing against Silver Lake
