Forney had already secured their spot in the playoffs and clinched a firstround home game after their 40-7 victory against McKinney North on October 28th. Regardless of the outcome of last Friday’s game, the Jackrabbits would end their regular season on an extremely high note, finishing second in the district with an almost perfect record. However, the Jackrabbits still came together and put up a strong front with a 53-29 win against the Tyler Lions, making them 6-1 in district play. Not only was it the Lions’ “Senior Night” and last game of their regular season, but a win could have potentially put them in the running for a playoff spot depending on the outcome of Lancaster’s game against Lufkin. Unfortunately, it seems like choosing to schedule the #21 school in Texas for that specific night, the same school that bested them by 44 points for a 57-13 score last year, wasn’t the brightest decision– or maybe it was, considering their seniors were celebrated during their final hurrah. Among these seniors is Derrick McCall, a four-star running back committed to UCLA who can also suit up at quarterback. But even a star like that can only shine so bright when the Jackrabbits come out to play.
The Jackrabbits ended with the win, but the Lions started with the ball. McFall made a 49-yard dash to the endzone for a touchdown, but sophomore running back Javian Osborne responded by securing the first Jackrabbit touchdown of the game after running for a whopping 72 yards. Both kicks failed (with the Lions’ kick swiftly blocked by senior defensive back Joshua Gatlin), and the first quarter ended at a tied 6-6. This score might have ignited a spark of hope for the Lions, but the Rabbits immediately got to work and began establishing a significant lead with senior wide receiver Kofi Eduful catching senior quarterback Kyle Crawford’s 45-yard throw for another Jackrabbit touchdown within the first minute of the quarter - all while outmaneuvering Lion junior defensive back Amarion Spencer-Hood. Osborne, a four-star who rushed for 88 yards that game and 977 this season, added to his stats with a 28-yard run for another touchdown after forcing his way through multiple Lions and still managing to get his arm in the endzone. Both of senior kicker Asher Wall’s kicks went through, putting the Rabbits at 20-6. Osborne immediately proceeded to get a 1-yard touchdown with 5:01 left in the quarter, followed by Eduful receiving Crawford’s 14-yard pass, and Wall put Forney at 33-14 at halftime (Lion sophomore running back Ashton Arriaga got a 1-yard touchdown as well, but Gatlin deflected the kick again).
With 9:08 left in the third quarter, Osborne (once again) put his athleticism on display during a 53-yard run to the Lions 0 (with a blocked kick). The Lions responded with a touchdown kickoff return and a touchdown fumble return (credited to McFall and junior linebacker D’Crystian Sueing), but Osborne fought back with a 6-yard touchdown run as it seemed like no Lion was a match for this Jackrabbit. With the score reading 45-29 by the end of the third quarter, the game was practically done, but senior defensive back Cameron Carter joined in on the fun for a two-yard rush to the Lions 0 at the 6:29 mark and Osborne closed the game with a two-point conversion rush. The Lions didn’t manage any points in the fourth quarter.
The Jackrabbit offense, especially Osborne, played hard on Friday, but the Jackrabbit defense also had many notable moments. In the first quarter, senior defensive back and fourstar Oregon commit Aaron Flowers prevented McFall from getting a touchdown... twice. In the second quarter, senior defensive back Seth Hyder got a stunning interception for a Rabbit 1st down, and senior wide receiver Ben Perin “burned” Sueing with a smooth catch over his head. Senior defensive lineman Luke Rodriquez also had a great takedown at the 1-minute mark.
In the second half, Flowers forced two more incompletes and senior defensive lineman Tristan “Tank” Bennet pulled down senior wide receiver Marquette Martin. Lion senior linebacker proved no match for the Rabbits when he was taken down by fellow linebacker, sophomore Jackrabbit Xzavier Young.
The Rabbits will play Porter Spartans this Friday at 7pm at City Bank Stadium for their second playoff appearance since 2015. Please rally around the Rabbits as they make another run for a state title.
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