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Local Sports

Eagles Cruise Past Raiders

Jackson is the new school rushing leader

By RICK THORP
POSTED: November 14, 2009
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NEW MARTINSVILLE - Dillon Jackson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns en route to becoming Magnolia's all-time leading rusher as the Blue Eagles dominated Roane County, 57-8, in a West Virginia Class AA playoff opener Friday night at Alumni Field.

It was an almost perfect postseason start for No. 2 Magnolia (11-0), which advanced to play host to No. 7 Keyser next week in a state quarterfinal contest. The Golden Tornado blew past No. 10 Point Pleasant, 29-6, on Friday night. The day and time for the game will be revealed by the SSAC later this weekend.

The Raiders (6-5) had no chance against a Magnolia offense that racked up 470 yards and a defense that held them to 88.

Clearly, it was the type of performance Magnolia coach Mark Batton envisioned.

''The effort by our offense and defense was tremendous,'' Batton said. ''It was a total team effort.''

That's an understatement.

During the Blue Eagles' first 10 games, plenty of players made their mark. Friday night, the trend continued. Six players scored touchdowns and plenty of other players made big plays that contributed to them.

Then there was the first-team defense, which held the Raiders scoreless and recorded a safety on a blocked punt that went out of the end zone. The defense also set up Magnolia's first two scores of the game.

''They really got pressure on their quarterback,'' Batton said.

On Roane County's second play of the night, quarterback Rhett Atkinson's pass was tipped and intercepted by Magnolia defensive back Justin Fox.

After three straight runs by Stingray Bates, Fox found tight end Jared Blatt in the right corner of the end zone for a 5-yard touchdown. The first of Fox' seven extra-point kicks made the score 7-0.

Roane County drove the ball on its ensuing drive to midfield, but a fumble by Nathan Reynolds was recovered by Fox and the Blue Eagles were in business again.

It took Magnolia five plays to reach the end zone this time. And again it was the Fox to Blatt connection, this time from 16 yards out, that made the score 14-0.

And the rout was on.

Roane County ran three straight plays for negative yardage on its next possession, setting the Raiders up with a fourth-and 16 from their own seven. Punting from the back of the end zone, Atkinson's boot was blocked by a throng of Blue Eagles out of play, and the score jumped to 16-0.

Roane County punted to end the first quarter, and it didn't take Magnolia long to score in the second. Two plays, in fact.

Fox hit Blatt for a 20-yard gain to get to the Raiders' 15 and then Fox took matters into his own hands on the next play, scampering for a 10-yard TD that made the score 23-0.

Magnolia was scoring quickly. The first three scores came on drives of four, five and two plays. And the final two scores of the first half also came quick.

Jackson scored on runs of 2 and 65 yards to cap drives of three and one play to make the score 37-0 at halftime.

Magnolia got the ball first in the second half and wasted little time increasing the lead.

Bates got into the scoring act when his 11-yard touchdown run capped a three-play drive that gave the Blue Eagles a commanding 44-0 lead.

Bates finished with a game-high 127 yards and a score. Magnolia finished the night with 350 yards and six TDs on the ground.

The Blue Eagles ran the ball nine straight times on their next possession, which ended with Traeh Keller galloping into the end zone with 5:15 left in the third quarter to help make the score 51-0.

Jackson had four carries on the drive, including a 13-yarder that gave him the school's rushing crown.

A senior, Jackson surpassed Greg Babe for the top spot. Jackson now has 2,198 yards, just 31 ahead of Bates, who is fourth on the all-time list.

Jackson and Bates have almost similar numbers this season, something Batton said he never planned on.

''They're quite a tandem and they play really well together,'' Batton said of the pair.

As for Jackson, Batton said he's more focused on getting back to Wheeling Island Stadium than records.

''He'd be the last person to focus on that,'' Batton said. ''He's a hard runner.''

The bulk of Roane County's offensive total came on one play near the start of the fourth quarter.

Atkinson found Reynolds over the middle for an 81-yard scoring strike that helped make the score 51-8

Freshman Zach Arrick capped the Magnolia scoring with a 1-yard run late in the contest.

Batton said he's eager to look at Keyser's personnel.

''They were senior-oriented last season,'' Batton said. ''But to beat Point Pleasant the way they did (Friday night) we're going to have to prepare really well for next week.''

 
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View Comments: | 1-1 | Post a comment
rblyel9420
11-14-09 10:02 AM
way to go batts

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