Posted: Wednesday, September 5, 2012 1:53 pm

By RANDY CAVIN
Press Sports
Lake County’s Devon Jones was too much for Greenfield to handle.
Playing a rare Thursday night to beat the remains of what was  Hurricane Isaac, the Yellowjackets could not keep up with Jones and could not end their losing streak in a 47-28 District 14A setback.
Trying to break a 12-game losing streak, the Yellowjackets pushed the Falcons to the limit in the first half and even had a 14-7 lead at the break.
But, Greenfield could not contain Jones as he ran wild. Jones picked up 197 yards on the ground on 22 carries and scored three times.
“He (Jones) is going to be a Division 1 football player, and we stopped him for two quarters,” Greenfield head coach Don Pitt said. “We played hard for two quarters.”
Greenfield held Jones in check in the first half, allowing him to gain 94 yards 13 carries and one touchdown. But Jones came out in the second half and rushed for 103 yards on just nine touches. He also scored twice in the third quarter.
The ’Jackets struck first in the opening quarter with a 12-play, 65-yard drive that took up the first 5:29 of the quarter. Junior quarterback Jeffery Johnson took the ball in from one yard out to give Greenfield the early lead. Jones tied the game on a 10-yard run from the wildcat formation with 1:33 to play.
Lake County quarterback Nick Price threw an interception to Johnson after he was forced from the pocket by a pressure defense.
A face mask call on the interception by the Falcons gave the Yellowjackets excellent field position at the Falcons’ 19-yard-line. Johnson hit Austin Pence for a 27-yard touchdown two plays later after a penalty pushed Greenfield back.
Greenfield went into the half with a 14-7 lead and looked ready to break its 12-game losing streak. However, they came out flat in the second half and Lake County took advantage of that by scoring 40 points in the half.
“We just came out flat in the third quarter, and there has been a short period of time during ball games that we just don’t play well,” Pitt said of his team’s performance.
“We have to get past that. Like last week, when it was a minute and a half in the second quarter. This week it seemed like it was like that again. I don’t know if we were ready to get back out there or not.”
Jones scored at the 8:11 mark in the third quarter on a three-yard run up the middle. Justin Kimble’s extra point attempt was low and blocked by Tanner Smithson and Pence. Jones struck again after Greenfield was forced to punt, this time scoring on a 32-yard run to put the Falcons up 19-14.
The Falcons held Greenfield once again and had great field position after a shanked punt. Price hit Zay Coleman coming across the middle for a 39-yard score to put Lake County up 27-14.
Greenfield made some strides late in the third quarter with Johnson to Smithson pass for 26 yards. Johnson found an open Miles Cavitt for a 37-yard gain that put the Yellowjackets at the Falcons’ seven. Johnson ran the ball in from the seven, but a holding penalty brought the ball back.
Greenfield moved the ball down to the three and Johnson ran it in on a third and goal play to put Greenfield right back in the game with a score of 27-21. Price found Coleman open on a slant on the first play after the ensuing kickoff for a 56-yard touchdown.
Johnson was picked off on Greenfield’s next possession by Jason Mills for 50-yard touchdown return to put the Falcons up 41-21.
Greenfield’s Colton McAlister recovered a Falcon’s fumble at their own 19 to set up some trickery by the ’Jackets. Pence connected with Johnson on a flea-flicker for an 18-yard touchdown to make it a 41-28 game with 6:35 to play. The Falcons scored once again with 3:45 to put the game out of reach.
Even though the Yellowjackets lost for the 13th consecutive time, the offense showed vast improvement by scoring 28 points against a quality team and was able to move the ball against the Falcons thanks to the quarterback play of Johnson.
“I am happy with the offense,” Pitt said. “On the offensive line we had some breakdowns, protection-wise. But Jeffery Johnson, our first-year quarterback is really playing some football. He has just got to understand that, being the quarterback, he has got to control his temper, but he is going to learn.”
Johnson finished with 146 yards passing on 7-of-12 attempts. He passed for two scores and ran for another. Miles Cavitt had two receptions and one rushing touchdown. Austin Pence ran the ball 17 times for 57 yards and had one touchdown reception.
Greenfield will host West Carroll on Friday.
“We are going to have to run the football because they are a running football team,” Pitt said. “So I think we did good last week. We did a few things different this week, and I thought they would pass it more so it kind of opened up some of their running.”
Published in The WCP 9.4.12By RANDY CAVIN
Press Sports
Lake County’s Devon Jones was too much for Greenfield to handle.
Playing a rare Thursday night to beat the remains of what was  Hurricane Isaac, the Yellowjackets could not keep up with Jones and could not end their losing streak in a 47-28 District 14A setback.
Trying to break a 12-game losing streak, the Yellowjackets pushed the Falcons to the limit in the first half and even had a 14-7 lead at the break.
But, Greenfield could not contain Jones as he ran wild. Jones picked up 197 yards on the ground on 22 carries and scored three times.
“He (Jones) is going to be a Division 1 football player, and we stopped him for two quarters,” Greenfield head coach Don Pitt said. “We played hard for two quarters.”
Greenfield held Jones in check in the first half, allowing him to gain 94 yards 13 carries and one touchdown. But Jones came out in the second half and rushed for 103 yards on just nine touches. He also scored twice in the third quarter.
The ’Jackets struck first in the opening quarter with a 12-play, 65-yard drive that took up the first 5:29 of the quarter. Junior quarterback Jeffery Johnson took the ball in from one yard out to give Greenfield the early lead. Jones tied the game on a 10-yard run from the wildcat formation with 1:33 to play.
Lake County quarterback Nick Price threw an interception to Johnson after he was forced from the pocket by a pressure defense.
A face mask call on the interception by the Falcons gave the Yellowjackets excellent field position at the Falcons’ 19-yard-line. Johnson hit Austin Pence for a 27-yard touchdown two plays later after a penalty pushed Greenfield back.
Greenfield went into the half with a 14-7 lead and looked ready to break its 12-game losing streak. However, they came out flat in the second half and Lake County took advantage of that by scoring 40 points in the half.
“We just came out flat in the third quarter, and there has been a short period of time during ball games that we just don’t play well,” Pitt said of his team’s performance.
“We have to get past that. Like last week, when it was a minute and a half in the second quarter. This week it seemed like it was like that again. I don’t know if we were ready to get back out there or not.”
Jones scored at the 8:11 mark in the third quarter on a three-yard run up the middle. Justin Kimble’s extra point attempt was low and blocked by Tanner Smithson and Pence. Jones struck again after Greenfield was forced to punt, this time scoring on a 32-yard run to put the Falcons up 19-14.
The Falcons held Greenfield once again and had great field position after a shanked punt. Price hit Zay Coleman coming across the middle for a 39-yard score to put Lake County up 27-14.
Greenfield made some strides late in the third quarter with Johnson to Smithson pass for 26 yards. Johnson found an open Miles Cavitt for a 37-yard gain that put the Yellowjackets at the Falcons’ seven. Johnson ran the ball in from the seven, but a holding penalty brought the ball back.
Greenfield moved the ball down to the three and Johnson ran it in on a third and goal play to put Greenfield right back in the game with a score of 27-21. Price found Coleman open on a slant on the first play after the ensuing kickoff for a 56-yard touchdown.
Johnson was picked off on Greenfield’s next possession by Jason Mills for 50-yard touchdown return to put the Falcons up 41-21.
Greenfield’s Colton McAlister recovered a Falcon’s fumble at their own 19 to set up some trickery by the ’Jackets. Pence connected with Johnson on a flea-flicker for an 18-yard touchdown to make it a 41-28 game with 6:35 to play. The Falcons scored once again with 3:45 to put the game out of reach.
Even though the Yellowjackets lost for the 13th consecutive time, the offense showed vast improvement by scoring 28 points against a quality team and was able to move the ball against the Falcons thanks to the quarterback play of Johnson.
“I am happy with the offense,” Pitt said. “On the offensive line we had some breakdowns, protection-wise. But Jeffery Johnson, our first-year quarterback is really playing some football. He has just got to understand that, being the quarterback, he has got to control his temper, but he is going to learn.”
Johnson finished with 146 yards passing on 7-of-12 attempts. He passed for two scores and ran for another. Miles Cavitt had two receptions and one rushing touchdown. Austin Pence ran the ball 17 times for 57 yards and had one touchdown reception.
Greenfield will host West Carroll on Friday.
“We are going to have to run the football because they are a running football team,” Pitt said. “So I think we did good last week. We did a few things different this week, and I thought they would pass it more so it kind of opened up some of their running.”
Published in The WCP 9.4.12