Benbrook star puts up big numbers again, but Anna comes away with the victory
Benbrook senior Quintan Jackson might be the most productive running back in Dallas-Fort Worth that no one’s talking about this season.
He came in Thursday night averaging 300 yards and nearly four touchdowns per game.
But Anna held Jackson below both averages as the Coyotes handed the Bobcats their first loss of the season, 24-21, at Farrington Field.
The Coyotes (3-1) recovered a fumble late and held Benbrook to four-straight incomplete passes with under a minute remaining and the Bobcats looking to tie or take the lead.
Jackson still managed to rumble for 254 yards and two TDs on 28 carries.
Anna halted Benbrook’s opening drive when Dorian Allen picked off a pass near midfield. The Bobcats then committed a 15-yard penalty to put the Coyotes inside the red zone.
Facing a fourth-and-9 from the 19, Anna quarterback Junior Rodriguez hit a wide-open Emmonte Davis for the 19-yard TD midway through the first quarter.
With just 21 yards on his first six rushes, Jackson made about six defenders miss on a fourth-and-3 then switched fields toward a 56-yard TD run with 3:17 left.
The Bobcats (3-1) had a chance to take a lead on their next drive, but missed a 25-yard field goal midway through the second quarter.
Rodriguez ran in a 5-yard TD to put Anna in front 14-7 with 3:19 before the half and kicker Gustavo Martinez added a 21-yard field goal to send the Coyotes into the locker room up 10.
Anna would take its biggest lead of the night when Benbrook couldn’t get off a clean snap during its second drive of the third quarter, and the ball traveled into the end zone where Anna’s Justin Muthaka fell on it for a 24-7 lead with 5:06 in the third.
But Jackson and the Bobcats answered with a 11-play drive. Jackson ran the ball seven times before William Green threw a perfect pass to Brice Hill for a 22-yard TD to start the fourth.
Jackson found pay-dirt on a 36-yard TD run with four minutes left. Green and Brady Lawson hooked up for the two-point conversion to make it a 3-point game.
Anna was forced to punt on the ensuing drive and booted a 74-yarder to the 3, but Benbrook fumbled on the very next play with 2:15 to go.
With another chance to eat up clock, Anna fumbled on fourth down and Isaiah Carpenter recovered. The Bobcats wouldn’t pick up a single yard as the Coyotes hung on for the victory.
The Bobcats out-gained the Coyotes 317-195 and picked up three more first downs. Allen led Anna with 77 yards rushing on seven carries.
Jackson is up to 1,158 yards rushing and 16 TDs through four games. He rushed for 1,521 yards and 17 TDs in 10 games last year, and didn’t hit the century mark until Week 7.
Both teams begin district play on Sept. 28. Benbrook faces Western Hills; Anna travels to North Lamar.