Jacob Reynolds rushes for 396 yards and 4 TDs in Cleburne’s win over Chisholm Trail

After a brief lightning delay, the Cleburne Yellow Jackets put on their own lightning show as running back Jacob Reynolds rushed for nearly 400 yards and four touchdowns in a 41-20 win Friday night at Chisholm Trail.

A year after going 0-10, Cleburne is off to a solid 2-0 start in 2018 in Casey Walraven’s second year at the helm.

Cleburne dominated early, and with the Jackets holding a 20-7 lead late in the second quarter they were going for the knockout punch for a potential 28-7 lead before Chisholm Trail’s Jassan Carey came away with an interception and returned it 45 yards near midfield.

The Rangers scored a few plays later to pull to within 20-14 for a momentum-swinging turn of events.

But Cleburne came out and dominated the second half, including two touchdowns on fourth down in the third quarter to take a 34-14 lead.

Game was over when: On fourth-and-goal from the 24-yard line, Cleburne sophomore quarterback Gunner Hammond found tight end Ethan Steck alone in the end zone for a touchdown and a 34-14 Yellow Jacket lead with 3:10 left in the third quarter.

Play of the game: Reynolds scored four touchdowns, but perhaps his most impressive run wasn’t even on a scoring play. With Cleburne pinned inside its own 5-yard line, Reynolds broke several tackles in the backfield and reversed field for a 52-yard gain.

Offensive player of the game: Who else other than Cleburne junior running back Jacob Reynolds, who rushed for 396 yards and four touchdowns on 40 carries.

Defensive player of the game: Cleburne’s Jaxon Bigham made plays all over the field, including a couple of timely tackles for loss.

Stat of the game: Cleburne rushed for more than 500 yards when it counted before the Yellow Jackets took three snaps in the victory formation to end the game. Reynolds averaged 9.9 yards per carry on 40 touches.

They said it: “The O-line, honestly, I couldn’t do anything without them,” Cleburne RB Jacob Reynolds said. “We were so hungry to come out here and show people we’re not the team we were last year.”

Big picture outlook: Cleburne has quickly put last year’s 0-10 record behind it with a 2-0 start to the 2018 season.

What’s next? Cleburne has week 3 off before the Yellow Jackets open District 5-5A Division II play at home against Waco University. Chisholm Trail opens District 3-5A Division I action next week against Crowley.