Chiefs Comeback Falls Short Against Wildcats
By Cinthia Rico
STEVENSON – North Jackson’s rally fell short against Westminster Christian Academy 56-35 last Friday night at R.D. Hicks Stadium.
The Chiefs, however, came out firing on all cylinders in the second half to nearly claim their first win of the season.
Westminster got off to a quick start, scoring on its first two possessions thanks to a 21-yard pass from All-State quarterback Brandon Musch to Kyle Everleth and a 49-yard run by Musch.
Trailing by 14, the North Jackson offense and defense got to work with Jacob Smith, Nick Jernagin collecting multiple stops.
With a 41-yard run for a Chiefs first down early in the game, running back Diego Holt added a significant play. With 25 seconds left in the first quarter, Holt broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run, and Jernagin dove in for the two-point conversion, cutting the margin to 14-6.
Musch threw TD passes of 36 yards to Adam Hartman and 6 yards to Houston Scott to put the Wildcats up 35-14 at halftime.
Musch scored on two runs of 42 yards each after the break, and he connected with T.J. Carter on a 40-yard pass down the middle for another score.
North Jackson’s Diego Holt (0) breaks free for a 57-yard touchdown run during the first half of Friday night’s matchup against Westminster Christian Academy at R.D. Hicks Stadium.
The Chiefs posted three additional touchdowns from Jernigan, Nicholas Price and Gary Little.
With 7:14 remaining in the third quarter, Jernagin’s 6-yard touchdown run and his PAT trimmed Westminster Christian’s lead to 35-21.
Later in the quarter, Jernagin connected on a 27-yard touchdown pass to Price, Jr. to reduce Westminster Christian’s lead to 41-28 heading into the fourth.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Wildcats increased their lead to 56-28 before Little’s 28-yard touchdown run and Jernagin’s PAT capped the scoring with 17 seconds left.
Musch concluded the evening with 462 total yards and eight touchdowns for the Wildcats. Musch connected with four different receivers for touchdowns.
Diego Holt had 21 carries for 151 yards and two touchdowns for North Jackson, and Gary Little scored from 80 yards out.
For the Chiefs, Nick Price, Jr. caught two passes for 72 yards and a score; Tyler Brown had two catches for 59 yards; and quarterback Nick Jernagin was 5-of-12 passing for 163 yards and a touchdown while also adding two rushing yards and a score.
Tonight, the Chiefs (0-2, 0-1) face Randolph (1-2, 1-0) in another regional matchup at R.D. Hicks Stadium.
North Jackson Press (NJP) is your trusted source for weekly hometown news, serving the vibrant communities of DeKalb and Jackson Counties in the heart of Alabama. We're here to bring you the latest stories, events, and happenings, all available conveniently both online and in print.
At NJP, we believe that community engagement is essential. We want to hear from you, our valued readers! Share your opinions, insights, and thoughts on our articles by adding a comment below each story. Your perspective matters, and your comments contribute to the rich tapestry of discussions in our community.
Together, we can foster meaningful conversations and build a stronger sense of community. Join us in shaping the narrative of DeKalb and Jackson Counties. Your voice is important, and we look forward to reading your comments. Let's make our community news a truly interactive experience!
Have a story idea or a topic you'd like to see covered? Feel free to suggest it in the comments or reach out to our dedicated team. We're here to serve you, and your feedback helps us tailor our content to your interests and needs.
