Jaguars’ playoff hopes dashed in senior night loss to North Hall
Cedar Shoals entered Thursday’s matchup against the North Hall Trojans with one thing on their minds: win and you’re in. However, many mistakes, including turnovers and dropped passes, lead the Jaguars to only 14 points, and their season ended in a 24-14 loss. This loss put the Jags out of playoff contention, ending their five season playoff streak, which was the second longest in the region behind North Oconee.
The first half of the game was tight, as the Jaguars and Trojans were never able to one-up each other. The teams exchanged three-and-outs, stalled drives, and a touchdown in the first half, making the score 7-7 at halftime.
The Jaguars spent a large portion of the game inside Trojan territory, but two fumbles and many failed fourth down conversions haunted the Jags.
“We just didn’t play our best football,” Head Coach Leroy Ryals said. “That’s all it really was, we just didn’t play as well as we should’ve.”
Nevertheless, senior running back Kayden Scott had another strong game for the Jaguars on both sides of the ball. He tallied another two interceptions, totaling to four in the last two games, and rushed for 56 yards. Scott also scored a five yard rushing touchdown to tie the game at seven early in the second quarter.
However, both Scott and junior running back Taiwan Green both fumbled the ball, one in the third quarter, and the other in the fourth quarter inside of the Trojans’ 20 yard line.
Quarterback Anthony Hubbard had a strong performance, passing for 164 yards, rushing for 96 yards and scoring his third rushing touchdown of the season, which brought the score to 24-14. The touchdown was the final score of the 2023 campaign for the Jaguars.
Hubbard wasn’t the only mobile quarterback on the field, with North Hall’s Tanner Marsh leading the Trojan’s rushing attack with 97 rushing yards. Marsh also threw for 83 yards, failing to score a touchdown and throwing two interceptions.
While the Jaguars held the Trojans to their second lowest point total of the season, the offense was never able to move into second gear.
“It’s all just a lack of execution,” Ryals said. “It’s been a problem from the start of the season and it cost us at the end of the season.”
