FORNEY, Texas – The Forney High School Jackrabbits (4-0, 1-0) brought their unblemished 2014 record, 3-0, into City Bank Stadium for the District 12-5A opener Friday night against the Royse City Bulldogs (0-4, 0-1).
FORNEY, Texas – The Forney High School Jackrabbits (4-0, 1-0) brought their unblemished 2014 record, 3-0, into City Bank Stadium for the District 12-5A opener Friday night against the Royse City Bulldogs (0-4, 0-1).
The early season momentum continued, as the Jackrabbits earned a homecoming victory by a score of 35-17 to move to 4-0 on the season.
A 2014-season norm, Forney was off to a quick start. AJ Atnip took the opening kickoff 56 yards to the Bulldog 44-yard line and the offense took advantage with a quick score off the arm of Luke Skipper to Shakur Morrow to make it 7-0 with 11:09 on the clock.
The Jackrabbits' second possession started inside their own 20-yard line – which didn't phase the offense. Luke Skipper completed an 11-yard pass to Jacob Gonzalez, rushed for 30, and connected with Shakur Murrow on a 48-yard touchdown pass to put the final touches on an 89-yard drive for a quick 14-0 lead with 8:03 remaining in the first quarter.
The Forney defense employed a bend-but-don't-break philosophy several times over the course of the game. The defense faced a run-heavy offense from the Bulldogs, but came up with stops when they needed them, most noticeably on a fake punt on a 4th-and-short inside Jackrabbit territory.
The Bulldogs gained 253 rushing yards but it just wasn't enough. Two missed field goals, both 35-yard attempts, kept the Bulldogs at bay and allowed the offense enough opportunities to put the game away. For the first time all year, the Jackrabbits couldn't win the turnover the battle. They didn't lose it either as both teams committed two turnovers on the night.
The Jackrabbits most important touchdown of the night came with 1:05 left before halftime as AJ Atnip caught a 22-yard touchdown pass from Luke Skipper (14-21, 217 yards, 3 TD) to make the score 28-17 going into halftime. The 11-point cushion made the second half a much different affair than the potential 4-point lead the Jackrabbits had after Bulldog kicker Preston Browning connected on a 21-yard field goal to make the score 21-17.
The only score of the second half belonged to the Jackrabbits, as they pushed the lead to 35-17 after Chazz Slatinsky excited the crowd with an impressive 42-yard run through the Bulldog defense.
While not the most dominant win of the young season, it may have been the most hard-fought. Royse City threatened several times, but the Jackrabbits found ways to make stops or otherwise thwart the Bulldog push. Methodically running another well-balanced attack (208 rushing yards, 217 passing), the Jackrabbits kept the Bulldog offense off the field and sealed the homecoming victory for the many faithful that filled the stands.
Next weeks game is against the South Garland Colonels at Homer B. Johnson Stadium on Friday night.
Game photos by Big Shots Photography of Forney, Texas.