New look but old results in JD’s season-opening loss to Dothan
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Running back Jarmarcus Barker (1) and the Jeff Davis Vols opened the season in new uniforms Thursday. But the style change wasn’t enough to aid in a win over Dothan. (Photo by Chris Dunn. For more photos of this and other games, click here.) Staff Report Jeff Davis High School may have taken the field at Cramton Bowl with a different look on Thursday. But the Volunteers mimicked the same team that lost 19 of 20 games in the past two seasons, only in a different uniform. Dothan was convincing in its 27-6 victory over JD, which wore a brand new style of uniforms (much like the look of the Oregon Ducks) for the first time since the school fielded a football team in 1968. Four turnovers either ended scoring drives or provided field position for the Tigers to cash in. Penalties also reared the ugly head to thwart scoring opportunities on a continual basis. “We shot ourselves in the foot way too many times,” JD coach Travis Pearson said. “We talked about this all through the summer and came out here and made those same mistakes that hurt us last year.” The highlight of the night was a 60-yard drive that was basically covered by two plays in the second quarter. The longest was a 39-yard pass from Doug Brown to D.J. Jones followed by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Brown to Odarius Williams. The Vols trailed 7-6 at halftime. JD opened the second half with what started out to be an impressive drive, only to have it end with a turnover. The Vols went to a “hurry up” mode and moved the ball to the Dothan 22-yard line but fumbled to end the drive. "That was the story all night," Pearson said. "It was not what we wanted for a first game." Dothan got a gift for its first touchdown. A fumble by inside the Vols’ 20-yard line on a snap exchange set up the first score of the night, a 3-yard run by Kemp Reaves. A big play gave Dothan a two-touchdown lead midway through the third period when freshman quarterback Diantae Thomas hit Adrian Kirkland with a middle screen pass. Kirkland went 57 yards for the score. Thomas struck again before the quarter ended with a 6-yard pass to Joseph Peterson. Dejeario Covington closed out the scoring in the fourth on a 25-yard TD run. “We started slow but we were able to make some plays in the second half,” Dothan coach Kelvis White said. “Jeff Davis has improved a lot. But I am proud of our guys.” The game can be replayed at http://www.networkalabama.com. Click on the “On Demand button and select the game. |
