Jaguars shut out in Classic City Championship

The Cedar Shoals Jaguars faced off against their cross-town rivals, the Clarke Central Gladiators, this past Thurs. Aug. 18, at Billy Henderson Stadium. Heading into the 2022 Classic City Championship, there were many questions surrounding both Cedar’s and Central’s respective teams. However, Cedar had another question thrown into the mix soon before the game.

Starting quarterback senior Mandrell Glenn was inactive this game due to a knee injury he sustained while playing basketball, meaning backup quarterback junior Anthony Hubbard started for the Jaguars.

Central won the coin toss, and chose to defer to the second half, giving Cedar the ball first. Junior Devin Hester returned the kickoff to the 19, and Cedar’s 2022 football season was officially underway.

The first drive started out with promise as Kayden Scott consistently gained yardage on runs and multiple screen plays. The Jags came close to the 50-yard line before pass protection broke down against the Gladiator defensive line. 

“Central has a good defensive line, and we’re still kind of young there,” Jaguars Head Coach Leroy Ryals said. “We are still trying to come together as a group, they just have to work and stick together.”

Following a sack and several penalties, the Jaguars punted, and the Gladiators began with good field position for senior quarterback Lucian Anderson III.

Anderson immediately made an impression by using his legs and throwing arm to drive the ball down the field, ending the drive with a 9-yard scramble into the endzone for a touchdown. Following a successful extra point attempt, the Gladiators led 7-0.

After a three-and-out from Cedar, Central got the ball back and continued to move down the field, ending with a 4-yard touchdown run by Anderson in the first minutes of the second quarter.

After Hester returned the ball to the 20-yard line, Hubbard threw a long pass caught by senior Jason Massey running all the way to the Central 13-yard line before he was brought down by the defense. Unable to advance further, Jags kicker Michael Hermitano attempted a 35-yard field goal. It would have been the longest field goal he has made, but it was just wide right.

Despite the setback, the Jaguars were able to shut down the Gladiator offense for the rest of the first half. 

“We were able to settle down,” Ryals said. “We need to do a better job of coming out at the beginning of the first half and third quarter.”

The next Central touchdown drive was capped off by a 30-yard 4th down scramble for Anderson two minutes into the third quarter. 

Thereafter the Jags offense had big plays get away from them, with Hester dropping two long passes that would have gotten Cedar into Gladiator territory.

With 10:52 left in the fourth quarter, Central junior Kendrick Curry ran for a short 1-yard touchdown run, bringing the score to 28-0, the Gladiators leading.

The Jaguars were keeping close to the sideline, but early in the next drive, a late hit occured by the Cedar sideline, causing a major fight that ended with two Jaguars being ejected. 

This was the second of two clashes in the game, a result of a deep rivalry and hard play. The game paused as referees decided what to do. Both sides were visibly frustrated, but Ryals remained calm.

“As a coach, you need to stay calm,” Ryals said. “You need everyone to settle down. It’s disappointing because you teach them not to get aroused but we’re emotional creatures.”

Cedar and Central brought out their respective junior varsity and freshman teams to finish out the game, which ended with a pair of touchdowns, including a pick-six for Central junior Leon Tate. 

Central attempted a two point conversion after both touchdowns, but were unable to convert either of them. On the final drive for Cedar, the Jags ran out the clock, ending with a final score of Central 40, Cedar 0.

Hubbard passed for 112 yards, averaging 12.4 yards per completion.

“He had some ups and downs,” Ryals said. “His inexperience showed up at times, but he made some good throws and decisions.”

His main target was Hester, who was the intended receiver at least seven times during the game, but Massey hauled in two catches for 75 yards, the most out of any Cedar receiver.

Anderson stole the show for Central, throwing for 86 yards. He averaged 12.3 yards per completion, had 99 rushing yards and picked up three rushing touchdowns. Curry added an additional 89 rushing yards of his own, averaging 12.7 per attempt. 

Central won the game in the trenches, with both their offensive and defensive line dominating the Jags. On offense, Central ran for 258 yards, and defensive tackle Jaylon Stone also picked up a sack and two tackles for loss , and was a problem all night long for Cedar.

After the game, Ryals and Clarke Central Head Coach David Perno met, having a few quick words on the field about the incident.

“I’ve known Coach Perno ever since he was a baseball coach at the University of Georgia,” Ryals said. “He’s a friend of mine and knows it wasn’t me and I know that it wasn’t him, so we don’t take that stuff personally.”

Cedar plays Monroe Area this Fri., Aug. 28, at 7:30 p.m. at Waters-Wilkins Stadium, looking to get their first win of the season against another non-regional opponent.