[Walt Longmire]

maybe there trying to do like college teams do ,i know serveral schools that do it,i know every home game at Arkansas State they treat it like away game and then haave Redwolf walk..

maybe they suit up at the school and ride to the field{2 or 3 miles to stadium}and some teams get a good game day speech.i think it builds a bond,dont see it as a negative. mboro had a great season and should be proud.

In Middlesboro's defense, the high school IS about 3 miles from the stadium, and they've "bussed" to their home games for as long as I can remember.

Congrats, Jumpers! Great season, Jackets.

I think Panther Thunder was having some fun at the Middlesboro fan's expense. When the Jackets lost to the Panthers earlier this season at least one Middlesboro fan blamed the loss on the long bus ride to Pikeville.

[Cellking]

Wonder why Middlesboro chose to go for 2 at that point of the game. A PAT would have put them ahead by 4, which would have won the game. Don't see it!!!!

[Motivator]

The Jumpers turning it on at the right time!!!

[Bobcats 9108]

:notworthy

maybe there trying to do like college teams do ,i know serveral schools that do it,i know every home game at Arkansas State they treat it like away game and then haave Redwolf walk..

It is because their football field isn't located at their school.

[WillBurg93]

Captain Thunder Pants might not be comical after Pikeville gets pass the cupcakes and play some real competition.

[RisingJackets]

Haha you pikeville fans need to get a life. It seems like you focus more on middlesboro then you do your own team. You can't blame that game on anyone. Middlesboro had their chance to win and just didn't capitalize. I believe the ball should have been in Austin poindexters hands way more often then it was. He made 83 look silly . One of the top rushers in 2a was setting out for middlesboro too, in pittman. I felt like that was a huge difference maker in this one, But I'm proud of my jackets great season middlesboro!!!! Give the kids credit please.

[Old Jumper]

Sometimes, it's better to be "lucky" than good. If this year's Jumpers and Jackets played 10 times, the series would end 5-5.

With that said, though, Somerset made plays when it counted and Middlesboro simply could not seal the deal. The Jumpers live to ride the bus another day. Ya gotta love the playoffs!

[Cellking]

Sometimes, it's better to be "lucky" than good. If this year's Jumpers and Jackets played 10 times, the series would end 5-5.

With that said, though, Somerset made plays when it counted and Middlesboro simply could not seal the deal. The Jumpers live to ride the bus another day. Ya gotta love the playoffs!

We'll take 2-0 Somerset against Jackets. No Excuses, I don't want to hear so and so didn't play. Chevy did not have a good game but don't talk about #12 making him look silly. I believe #83 and his teammates won the game so if anyone looks silly it is the Jackets.:igiveup:

[Panther Thunder]

On a serious note, I had no clue they actually bussed to home games. Cool tradition, if true.

Congrats to the Jumpers on the W. Always have been a Jumper fan when they weren't playing the Maroon and White.

Congrats to the M'Boro players and staff for turning things around down there. They will be a big test again for PHS next year.

[teampaul]

Why in the world would Middlesboro take a bus to a home game?

Dude that is a pretty jerk move. There is no need for that. Middlesboro's team played a heck of a game. That's why no one likes Pikeville in the state. You think you're better than everyone else. Good job, you won. Those seniors played their hearts out. Why poke fun? You already had a good win.

And yes Middlesboro has bussed it's players to the field forever. The stadium is located downtown for the school

[ArJay]

Middlesboro had a great year and gained some respect from a lot of people. Congratulations to them on their season.

[64Jumper ('81-'84)]

Putting my humble self aside....Ill go ahead and take credit for this win...it was my reverse methods after all....LOL.:dontthink

[Jumper Dad]

How many kids does Middlesboro lose from this team? What key players return?

[mboro jackets #13]

Middlesboro returns all there starters from this year except for #12 wr/ol ,
#8 qb/db, #55 rt/dt, #58 de/c

[Jumper Dad]

Middlesboro looks to be loaded for next season, wasn't this team primarily a Junior based team?

[SHShhhhh]

Lange saves SHS in overtime thrillerBy BRUCE W. SINGLETON, CJ Correspondent 11/17/2013 3:49 AM

The Somerset Briar Jumpers Beat the Middlesboro Yellowjackets Friday night for a chance to compete for their fifth straight regional title.
The three seed Jumpers had to travel to the Middlesboro home field to compete against the one seed on a rainy night when the ball was wet, the air was cold, and the competition was tough.
It is a role Somerset hasn’t played in recent years.
For the entire span of Robbie Lucas’s career as Somerset head coach, the team had never lost a district game. Such a record created a perennial one seed, stay-at-home playoff schedule, and the theoretically easiest road to the final four.
But a home loss to Danville on October 11 broke that record and forced the Jumpers into a cruel tie breaker with Middlesboro and Danville. Even though they got to share a piece of the District title, the Somerset players would have to travel for the opportunity to put on their helmets for just 48 more minutes.
This time, it took more than 48 minutes of regulation play to get the job done. An Alex Franklin field goal with 34 seconds left in the game led to a sudden victory tie breaker overtime. When the Middlesboro fumbled the ball, Somerset was able to recover and take home the victory.
There is an old, and often misused saying which is attributed to legendary Alabama football coach, Paul “Bear” Bryant.
“Offense wins games,” the saying goes, “but defense wins championships.”
With its collective back to the wall, the Briar Jumper team came out onto the field and played a game of hard knocks defense featuring no turnovers, forced errors on the other side, and smash mouth but fair football.
That defense was carried by what is known as the “Interior 7” : Senior Haden Fox, Bailey McEnroe, Kagen Skidmore, Devin Griffith, Tanner Gadberry, Bryson Jones and junior Jacobi Gilmore make up the corps that, time and time again stopped the potent Middlesboro offense.
There were two extremely important times when these young men were called upon to play football.
On the clock, 3:20 remained in the fourth quarter. Middlesboro, leading by 3, had it on their own 39 with 4th and 1. The Yellowjackets wanted desperately to hold onto the ball. The clock could be their very best friend and Somerset’s very worst enemy. Somerset had tried, and failed to put the tying field goal on the scoreboard, and the Jackets were determined to keep the score where it was to take home the victory.
Middlesboro called a time out and set its play: they were going to go for it.
But first they were going to try the hard count and get the first down the easy way.
Somerset’s line didn’t flinch. They knew there wasn’t a chance that the ball would be snapped, but even so, the impulse to jump had to be nearly uncontrollable. Fortunately, a season of near misses left the Jumpers primed to do the things necessary to win the ball game, and if that meant they had to stand still, they showed the crowd they were willing to do so.
Middlesboro took another time out, and this time they put the ball in the hands their powerful back and charged the line.
The Interior 7 slammed the door shut.
Acting as one man, the Somerset defense stopped the run nearly the length of a football from its intended target.
And the next time Alex Franklin had the chance to score the field goal, he was ready, willing, and able.
The score tied, and the right to advance at stake, the Yellowjackets used their coin toss win to take the first shot at scoring in overtime. Middlesboro’s Barton, who had been running for yardage all night took it to the 8. Major Edwards tried the coup de grace, but Somerset’s Bailey McEnroe replied with a helmet to the ball, a fumble to the ground and a game ball fumble recovery gift to Devin Griffith.
It was Somerset’s turn to try to score. Will Lange, who has been out for virtually all season took the ball to the 1, then took it to the house.
It was his first touchdown of the season.
It is arguably the most important touchdown any of the Jumpers have scored all season, and propelled the team to the 19-13 win.
“It was what you would expect between two teams,” Robbie Lucas said. “Middlesboro played a heckuvva game. I think it was two teams that didn’t want to go home, and it took the overtime to get everything done. Hats off to Middlesboro. Those kids played their hearts out and they played as hard as they possibly could. They made plays when they had to make plays. We were just fortunate enough to make one more.”
The win gave the Briar Jumpers the right to play in the Regional championship next Friday night at Prestonsburg.
“We don’t know a lot about Prestonsburg right now,” Lucas said. “I know we’ll get a look at them, but I know they’ve got to be a quality team.”
But getting ready for the next game has to take back seat for a little rest and relaxation. The Jumpers and their following faithful have earned the right to take stock of where they are and the adversity it has taken to get here.
And maybe next week, they will get the opportunity to play one more ball game.
“The opportunity to coach these young men for another 48 minutes means a heckuvva lot to me,” Lucas said.
The Briar Jumpers have lost 4 games this season. That’s a lot by Briar Jumper standards, but it seems the guys on the field have gotten the gist of another of those quotes attributed to the Bear:
“Losing doesn’t make me want to quit. It makes me want to fight that much harder.”
From what we saw Friday night, the Briar Jumper football team is finally getting the right idea.

Scoring Summary

SHS 7 0 3 3 6– 19 OT
MHS 7 0 6 0 0-13

First Quarter
SHS---Bryson Jones 35 run PAT Franklin 8:00
MHS — Jake Brock 11 pass from Donnie Foister PAT Jessie Hoskins 2:24

Third Quarter
SHS--- 20 FG Alex Franklin 9:34
MHS — Austin Poindexter 14 pass from Foister PAT 2-point try failed 4:52

Fourth Quarter
SHS--- 20 FG Alex Franklin :34

Overtime
SHS---Will Lange 1 run

TEAM RUSHING ---
SHS –130
MHS--- 121

TEAM PASSING
SHS-94
MHS-167

PASSING—
SHS--- Hatcher 8 for 21 for 94 yards
MHS – Donnie Foister 10 for 20 for 167, 2TD

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING— SHS, Bryson Jones 10-60 1TD, Brycen McWilliams 2-2, Braiden McWilliams 1-0, Castle Hatcher 3-3, Will Lange 14-65 1TD
MHS—Donnie Foister 6-7, Seth Barton 19-99, Major Edwards 12-27, Team (-)12

RECEIVING—
SHS, Cam Cheuvront 4-15, 2TD, Chandler Dobbs 1-23, Will Lange 3-57
MHS—Brock 4-47 1TD, Austin Poindexter 8-120 1TD

[SHShhhhh]

Heart-breaker: Jackets fall to Somerset in OT


November 16. 2013 7:12AM
Jay Compton Sports Editor




There’s no such thing as a good way to lose in the playoffs, but Friday’s 19-13 overtime loss to Somerset was especially gut-wrenching for the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets.


Despite being without Ryan Pittman — their leading rusher and one of their top playmakers on defense — and with several others playing through various injuries, the Jackets out-gained and out-hit the Briar Jumpers for most of the night. They led 13-10 after a sensational one-handed grab in the end zone by senior Austin Poindexter with 4:52 to play in the third quarter and maintained that lead until Alex Franklin booted a tying field goal with just 34 seconds left in regulation.


The game went to overtime and Middlesboro had the ball first. But on their second play, Somerset’s Bailey McEnroe came free on a blitz and forced a fumble that the Jumpers recovered. Will Lange fought through a pair of Jackets as he made his way around the left side and into the end zone for the game-winning 3-yard touchdown run on third down.


“We had an opportunity to win the football game and it just didn’t happen. But I’m very proud of these kids. They never gave up, they never got down and they fought to the very end,” Jacket coach Randy Frazier said. “It’s hard to lose, especially for these seniors. But look at what they have accomplished. Somerset was picked to win the region and they handed it to us up there. A lot of people didn’t give us a chance, but our kids knew that we could win and they came out and played hard enough to win the ball game.”


Middlesboro outgained Somerset 298-210 and managed 14 first downs to the Jumpers’ 10. The Jackets did lose two fumbles and gave Somerset a short field on two other occasions that turned out to be the difference.


“We didn’t get any turnovers from them. I think may have been the difference, but I’m so proud of the kids,” Frazier added.


It was a rough start for the Jackets as they were flagged for illegal procedure on their very first offensive play. On third and long, Donnie Foister scrambled to his left and hit a wide open Seth Barton for a 69-yard touchdown, but the play was called back because Foister had crossed the line of scrimmage before releasing the pass and Middlesboro had to punt.


Somerset went 78-yards on seven plays. Lange ran for 29 yards on a pitch out and then fullback Bryson Jones found a seam right up the middle as he rumbled 35 yards for a touchdown. Alex Franklin’s kick made it 7-0 with 8:00 to play in the first quarter.


But from there the Brian Jumpers could manage just 39 yards of offense the rest of the first half.


“Up front changed it. Our linemen controlled the line of scrimmage for a lot of the game that was the big change from when we played up there,” said Frazier.


Middlesboro answered that score with a 12-play, 63-yard march. Major Edwards, Foister and Barton combined for 25 rushing yards on the drive and Somerset helped the Jacket cause with a 15-yard personal foul. Poindexter took a screen pass for a 13-yard gain and Jake Brock capped the drive with a 10-yard touchdown pass from Foister. Tanner Hoskins added the PAT to tie the game at 7 with 2:24 to go in the first.


In the second quarter Brock delivered a 40-yard punt that Tyler Prater downed inside the Somerset 1-yard line. While the Jumper offense was stalling, Middlesboro drove into Somerset territory three times. They finally got as close as the 19 when they turned the ball over on downs just before halftime as the score remained 7-7.


Somerset’s first break came on the opening kick of the third quarter. Hoskins attempted an onside kick, but the ball took a funky hop and went backwards and out of bounds at the Jacket 36. Their drive stalled at the MHS 3-yard line and Franklin kicked a 20-yard field goal at the 9:34 mark to put the Jumpers up 10-7.


Once again Middlesboro answered. This time with a 10-play, 74-yard drive. Barton started it with an 8-yard run and then broke free for a 44-yard gain to the Jumper 23. Edwards ran the ball three times for nine yards, including two big ones to convert a fourth-and-short at the 11. After a penalty pushed the Jackets back, Foister lofted a pass for Poindexter in the corner of the end zone. With Cam Cheuvront draped all over him, Poindexter went up with one hand and came down with the ball for the 13-yard touchdown.


Middlesboro’s senior receiver finished with seven catches for 104 yards and the touchdown. He was also strong on the defensive side with a sack, several other tackles and a couple of pass breakups.


“I’ve told people from the word go that Austin Poindexter could possibly play in the SEC. He really could, he’s that caliber of player,” Frazier said. “There are a lot of kids on this team that can play and they all played hard tonight.”


When they lined up for the PAT, the Jackets saw an opportunity to go for two with how Somerset’s defense was lined up. But Barton was stopped short on the run and not getting the extra point would prove costly as the lead was just 13-10.


“They didn’t have anybody on our line and that’s my call. We missed a block or he could have walked in, but that’s neither here nor there,” Frazier said. “If we don’t go for two there, then they would have gone for the touchdown when they got down it down to the four (late in the fourth quarter).”


On the very next play from scrimmage Poindexter came on a blitz and threw Hatcher for a 12-yard loss. After the teams traded possessions, Jones pinned Middlesboro back at their own 9 with a 44-yard punt on the final play of the third quarter.


Poindexter got the Jackets out of that hole with a spectacular 31-yard gain on a screen pass. He caught the ball behind the line of scrimmage with a couple of blockers, then accelerated through a tackle as he cut all the way across the field and picked up more blocks before getting pushed out of bounds at the 43.


Somerset got another break when they recovered a Middlesboro fumble at the Jacket 40 one play later. They weren’t able to take advantage, though, as Franklin came up short on a 34-yard field goal with 6:00 left in the fourth quarter.


Middlesboro got one first down as Foister hit Brock for a 10-yard gain. On third-and-ten, Poindexter picked up almost nine yards on a pass as he was forced out of bounds. The spot left the Jackets needing a yard and a half to pick up the first down at their own 39. They went for it and Barton did not get a favorable spot as the officials marked him down right at the 40-yard line.


“That spot was terrible and I don’t care to say that. I’m not saying we made it, but I know we went farther than what they gave us,” Frazier said.


While some could question the decision to go for it there, Brock was pressured heavily on his last punt attempt and it only went 13 yards. Plus, Cheuvront is one of the most dangerous return men around and getting that one long yard would have just about sealed the win.


Instead, Somerset took over at the Middlesboro 40 with 3:11 on the clock. Poindexter nearly intercepted a deep ball intended for Cheuvront on first down. Matthew Schneider batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage on second down. But on third down, Lange got open on a corner route and hauled in a 31-yard pass from Hatcher to set up a first-and-goal at the nine.


After a Somerset penalty pushed them back five yards, Poindexter stopped Cheuvront for no gain on a little out route. Prater then batted down a pass at the line of scrimmage. On third down, Austin Bubnick took a Hatcher pass 9-yards but was stopped at the four to set up Franklin’s tying field goal.


“We had them on third down and that kid (Lange) made a great play to come up with that catch,” Frazier said. “But we held them to a field goal and then it goes to overtime and it’s zero-zero from there.”


On Middlesboro’s second offensive play of the extra period, McEnroe timed the snap perfectly and slammed into Edwards just as he was getting the handoff from Foister and the ball came free.


“The linebacker came through the gap and hit them right at the mesh-point. Nobody did anything wrong, it was just a great play by the defense,” Frazier said.


Middlesboro ends the season with record of 9-3.


Somerset (7-4) will visit Prestonsburg next week for the Class 2A, Region 4 championship. Prestonsburg advanced with a 20-13 win over Danville.


— — —

Somerset 7 0 3 3 6 — 19
Middlesboro 7 0 6 0 0 — 13

S- Bryson Jones 35 run (Alex Franklin kick)


M- Jake Brock 10 pass from Donnie Foister (Tanner Hoskins kick)


S- Franklin 20 field goal


M- Austin Poindexter 13 pass from Foister (run fail)


S- Franklin 21 field goal


S- Will Lange 3 run

TEAM STATISTICS
SHS MHS
First downs 10 14
Total yards 210 298
Rushes-yards 32-117 42-148
Passing yards 93 150
Comp.-Att.-Int. 8-20-0 12-19-0
Punts-Avg. 5-36.6 4-34.8
Fumbles-lost 0-0 4-2
Penalties-yards 5-55 8-45
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING — Somerset, Will Lange 14-64, Bryson Jones 12-63, Brycen McWilliams 1-3, Castle Hatcher 5-(-12); Middlesboro, Seth Barton 19-98, Major Edwards 12-29, Jake Brock 1-19, Donnie Foister 10-2.


PASSING — Somerset, Hatcher 8-20-0-93; Middlesboro, Foister 12-19-0-150.


RECEIVING — Somerset, Cam Cheuvront 4-12, Lange 2-48, Chandler Dobbs 1-24, Austin Bubnick 1-9; Middlesboro, Austin Poindexter 7-104, Brock 5-46.



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[BigDawgPrez]

Middlesboro looks to be loaded for next season, wasn't this team primarily a Junior based team?

Middlesboro has both teams returning for next year except 58 12 8. Those were key seniors but middlesboro will return next year 10x better than this year. Somerset better be ready for the jackets next year

[BigDawgPrez]

Somerset didn't beat Middlesboros football team they beat the Coach that called that 2 point conversion

[BigDawgPrez]

Why in the world would Middlesboro take a bus to a home game?

Listen here, only reason Pikeville hates on us so much is because we ruined your State Title dreams in 98'. Congrats that you beat us but I guarantee If our defense showed up the panthers wouldn't be seen for another week. We gutted your alls defense. This middlesboro team played their hearts out and it's not fair to have Pikeville pansies sit here and criticize us. And yes the football field is down town and its been a tradition to bus down to the field so congrats on making yourself look like an idiot. You tell everyone in Pikeville to be ready because when you guys come to middlesboro it's panther season. I promise you that

[redstorm]

Congrats to a great season Middlesboro and coaches!!

[PHSForever]

Listen here, only reason Pikeville hates on us so much is because we ruined your State Title dreams in 98'. Congrats that you beat us but I guarantee If our defense showed up the panthers wouldn't be seen for another week. We gutted your alls defense. This middlesboro team played their hearts out and it's not fair to have Pikeville pansies sit here and criticize us. And yes the football field is down town and its been a tradition to bus down to the field so congrats on making yourself look like an idiot. You tell everyone in Pikeville to be ready because when you guys come to middlesboro it's panther season. I promise you that

Actually, we mess with y'all because some of your fans keep claiming you all were really the better team. This will be last time I address this game on the forum. You say that you all gutted our defense. We'll, in terms of total yards, yeah, you put up a lot. Let's look at the numbers though, to see who actually had a better defense that night, and offense.

Pikeville gained 575 total yards on offense. They were 13-15 passing for 322 yards (24.77 yards per completion), and had 34 rushes for 253 yards (7.44 yards per carry). That is a net of 49 offensive plays, which averages out to 11.73 yards per play. All this despite having a short field most of the game.

Middlesboro had 446 yards of total offense. They were 18-23 passing for 264 yards (14.66 per completion), and had 43 rushes for 209 yards (4.86 yards per carry). That is a net of 446 yard on 66 offensive plays, for an average of 6.75 yards per play.

So, you all ran 17 MORE plays than Pikeville, and gained 130 yards LESS. So, tell me again, whose defense exactly got "gutted"? Middlesboro had a heck of a team, much respect. But the above numbers, and the refusal of a couple of your fanboy posters to accept facts make it easy for us to keep hammering away on the long bus ride excuse, etc. it's all in fun, like two fan bases SHOULD yammer at each other. Heck, look at how Williamsburg and Hazard go at each other. You all won the state championship in '98. No shame on our end losing to an outstanding team. Obviously, the better team won that year.

[E's Army]

Tough for your season to end in overtime. Having been there it is like a kick in the stomach.

[BigDawgPrez]

Actually, we mess with y'all because some of your fans keep claiming you all were really the better team. This will be last time I address this game on the forum. You say that you all gutted our defense. We'll, in terms of total yards, yeah, you put up a lot. Let's look at the numbers though, to see who actually had a better defense that night, and offense.

Pikeville gained 575 total yards on offense. They were 13-15 passing for 322 yards (24.77 yards per completion), and had 34 rushes for 253 yards (7.44 yards per carry). That is a net of 49 offensive plays, which averages out to 11.73 yards per play. All this despite having a short field most of the game.

Middlesboro had 446 yards of total offense. They were 18-23 passing for 264 yards (14.66 per completion), and had 43 rushes for 209 yards (4.86 yards per carry). That is a net of 446 yard on 66 offensive plays, for an average of 6.75 yards per play.

So, you all ran 17 MORE plays than Pikeville, and gained 130 yards LESS. So, tell me again, whose defense exactly got "gutted"? Middlesboro had a heck of a team, much respect. But the above numbers, and the refusal of a couple of your fanboy posters to accept facts make it easy for us to keep hammering away on the long bus ride excuse, etc. it's all in fun, like two fan bases SHOULD yammer at each other. Heck, look at how Williamsburg and Hazard go at each other. You all won the state championship in '98. No shame on our end losing to an outstanding team. Obviously, the better team won that year.

Somerset would kill Pikeville. Btw. They won't be able to handle us next year I promise that

[Buffalo Bildos]

Somerset would kill Pikeville. Btw. They won't be able to handle us next year I promise that

At least someone reverted the thread back to Somerset. :Clap: