It's safe to say the Diboll Lumberjacks and fans fully expected a win over Huntington in Friday's homecoming game for the 'Jacks. After all, the Red Devils hadn't won a game in the local rivalry since 1992.
But no one in the home crowd could have anticipated just how tough the Devils would make it for the Lumberjacks to celebrate a win.
Andy Scott |
Diboll's Kamran McCollum (24) finds running room as Huntington's Dale Litton (4) gives chase during Friday's game in Diboll. The Lumberjacks scored the game's final 28 points to win 28-12 before a packed homecoming crowd.
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Huntington jumped out to an early 12-0 first quarter lead, only to the see the Lumberjacks score the next 28 en route to a 28-12 win.
Kamran McCollum ran the 'Jack offense out of an old-school single-wing formation, carrying 14 times for 154 yards. His efforts set the table for Terrance Taylor, who finished with three touchdowns and 110 rushing yards on 17 carries. Chris Bailey connected with Cody Stifle on a 21-yard scoring pass late in the fourth quarter to seal the deal for Diboll, now 2-6 overall and 1-2 in District 18-3A play.
Huntington's offense featured Dale Litton's 67 yards on seven carries and Matt Cartwright's 64 yards and a touchdown on eight totes.
The Red Devils put a damper on the homecoming festivities by scoring twice in a 30-second span to open the game. After Taylor fumbled on Diboll's first possession, setting up the 'Devils on their own 44-yard line, Litton ripped off a 47-yard run to the Lumberjack 1.
Two plays later, quarterback Blake Collins scored on a keeper to give Huntington a quick 6-0 lead less than five minutes into the game.
The Red Devils then gambled with an onside kick executed perfectly, giving Huntington possession on the Diboll 44. Matt Cartwright blew through the line for a 42-yard run before pushing over from two yards out to give the 'Devils a stunning 12-0 lead midway through the first quarter.
Diboll took little time to respond. McCollum ran for 30 yards on first down, and Taylor used a nifty move on his way to a 27-yard touchdown run to get the 'Jacks on the board. They'd score again after the defense forced a Huntington three-and-out, Taylor again, this time on a one-yard plunge. Stifle's PAT gave Diboll a 14-12 lead by the end of the first period.
The Lumberjacks' third score again came with McCollum doing the dirty work. His 44-yard scamper put Taylor in position to score from nine yards out, giving Diboll 21 unanswered points in the half.
The 'Jacks then made the necessary halftime defensive adjustments, and they worked to perfection over the final two quarters. Huntington managed just one rushing yard and a single first down over the game's final 24 minutes. The Bailey-to-Stifle hookup came with just under four minutes to play, with Bailey lobbing a pass to the corner of the end zone and Stifle sidestepping a defender to make the catch.
Diboll will travel to Carthage Friday night to take on the district-leading Bulldogs. Game time is 7:30 p.m.
