Travis Noland was on record this week saying Cairo might be the fastest team he’d ever coached against. In the Quarterfinals on Black Friday at Jefferson, the #1-ranked Dragons (12-1) overcame a nightmare start in a 47-28 win over the Syrupmakers (10-3) where that speed presented a problem.
Immediately, Cairo showed off that speed. A quick 21-0 deficit sparked something in Jefferson though. They made adjustments and scored the next 30 straight points.
Despite Jefferson forcing a fumble on the second play from scrimmage, the Syrupmakers’ Bryian Duncan, Jr. was at the right place at the right time, scooping it up and running it some 80 yards for a shocking score.
It was just the beginning of a series of punches by Cairo. A quick 3-and-out then became a 70-yd TD by Duncan on a pass from Bryce Puckett. The ensuing pooch kick was recovered by the visitors, and it looked like they were about to deliver a devastating blow. But the next pass attempt up the middle was intercepted by Jacob Berardinelli.
It momentarily shifted momentum, but Duncan struck again on a 65-yd TD run for the 21-0 lead, dampening the mood at Memorial Stadium for the time being.
The second quarter got off to a much better start and in fact was better than the first quarter was bad.. The Dragons rolled down the field and found pay dirt with a 2-yd TD by Darren Pinkard. A fumble on Cairo’s possession was recovered by #46.
Jefferson turned it into points, as CJ Hays found the end zone on a 7-yd touchdown run with 8:06 on the clock, making it a 21-14 game. Pinkard got to the QB on a bad snap and recorded a safety, getting it to 21-16. The kick was returned inside the red zone, and Colton Grant rumbled in for an 8-yd touchdown and the first Dragons lead at 23-21. That held to the break.
Jefferson had the ball to start the second half, and picked up where it left off. Grant hit Dalton Dye on an 18-yd TD for the 30-21 lead. After giving up 30 straight, the Syrupmakers were desperate for a score and got it on a 79-yd strike from Puckett to Duncan.
It was short-lived, as 24 seconds later a monster kickoff return to the 2-yard line was punched in by Pinkard for the 37-28 advantage. After a turnover on downs, the Dragons bled more clock and kicked in a 28-yd field goal courtesy of Taylor McCall early in the fourth.
Another turnover on downs at midfield again set up the Dragons. Grant hit Dye on a slant for a 39-yd TD to push the lead up to 47-28 with just over six minutes to go, essentially icing the game.
Grant had a hand in three touchdowns, throwing two and rushing for another. Pinkard and Dye both had a pair of TDs, with the former adding a safety. Hays had the other touchdown. Duncan had all four Cairo scores. The Dragons reach their third straight semifinals appearance.
