Saks, AL – Led by Ogle, Fisher, high-flying Jacksonville scores big in the in the first half. They top Saks 41-0 in a jamboree. Oxford triumphs at Fort Payne
The jamboree of Thursday’s scores
Jacksonville 41, Saks 0
Oxford 28. Fort Payne 3
Beulah 55, Woodland 16
Handley 26. Coosa Christian 14 (one half)
Handley 22. Pell City 3, (one half)
By Joe Medley
Jamborees are just glimpses. In the initial glimpse, Jacksonville comes as advertised in 2023.
Senior Troy commit Jim Ogle threw five first-half touchdown passes. And the Golden Eagles’ 41-0 halftime lead remained as the final score following reserves were able to play the second half with the clock at Saks.
Ogle has completed touchdown passes of 6 10, 29 and six yards. He also passed to Damonte Sinclair, and 70 and 40 yards for Ky’dric Fish.
Preseason ranked at No. 6 in the Class 4A of the Alabama Sports Writers Association, Jacksonville also scored an impressive 54-yard touchdown run by Xzavier English, who scored 34 points in the second quarter. In the second quarter, there were two single-play drives that culminated in Ogle’s scramble as well as a the 40-yard pass at Fisher as well as English’s 53-yard run.
Ogle’s 10-yard touchdown to Sinclair ended a drive that was two plays long.
Jacksonville’s first unit offense performed a show in front of an entirely newly designed offensive line.
“It was great to against someone else, for the first time,” Ogle said. “We’ve been playing against each other for years It was a good experience. We were able to do some great stuff in the beginning for these youngsters. It was great to see them play another player before the real things begin next week.”
The majority of the things Jacksonville did was familiar to us in the context of Ogle begins his fourth season in the role of Golden Eagles’ starting quarterback However, they sometimes used Fisher as an offensive threat. Fisher stepped out between the lines of scrimmage in order to throw quick shovel throws or jet sweeps.
Fisher’s 45-yard run kicked off Jacksonville’s first scoring run that was a 6-play 75-yard run that culminated with Ogle’s six-yard touchdown pass to Sinclair in the opening quarter.
“Any moment you have an opportunity to play the ball, that’s great idea,” Jacksonville coach Clint Smith stated. “He’s an active player. One of us playmakers. If we can find him to play the ball in the jet sweep or like that, it’s a good rate. Let him take care of the work.”
In his 22nd year as head coach, Smith worked for nine seasons at Saks before changing to Jacksonville in the year 2012. The span of time includes seven of those years as Saks as head coach between 2005 and. The jamboree on Thursday was his first appearance at Saks since the year 2017 when the Wildcats triumphed in a classic 34-27 and went on to win the Class 4A Region 5 championship and a 13-1 record.
Unranked in the Class 3A in 2023 The Wildcats begin their first season under the head coach, Alphonso Freeney, who was hired after Jonathan Miller took the Piedmont job.
“Just as I’ve told the coaches at our meetings, it all begins at home,” stated Freeney, who joined Saks after having led Pasco (Fla.) High School to a 9-2 record in his first year as head coach. “We let them let themselves play around in the practice this week and it was apparent.
“We’ve to face this, but ultimately, main thing I’m happy about was that they didn’t give up on me. It’s going to be awesome. We’ll be okay And these kids are convinced.”
The jamboree on Thursday was also a celebration of the coming-out celebration for Saks rookie quarterback Jamorris Young, who followed Sean Parnell’s older brother’s route through Ohatchee into Saks. Parnell was the one who led Saks into the class of 2021 3A semifinals as well as an overtime win against Piedmont.
Young displayed flashes of his skills on He showed flashes of his skills on Thursday. On Saks the most exciting play, he completed the ball 44 yards for Justin Cosper and a 15-yarder to Dorrien Walker to get his Wildcats on Jacksonville’s 1 yard line, with chances to tie the game within the first quarter.
After a string of penalties, which included an illegal start, an non-eligible receiver at Saks and two calls for defensive pass interference on Jacksonville The Golden Eagles made a stand. Young’s pass on the fourth goal from the fourth fell uncomplete.
“He’s just a freshman, but there were some huge plays this evening,” Freeney said. “With certain of those the quarterbacks, they weren’t in present, so there were times when He stepped up which allowed them to tackle which, if not for J-Mo has gone. He’s likely to score 10, 15 or more. He’ll take them on.
“We’re sure to be perfectly.”
OXFORD 28, FORT PYNE 3:At Fort Payne, Oxford’s players won the opening period by 21-0. Reserves and junior varsity took part in the second period.
Quarterback Mason Mims completed 15 of 23 passes for 234 yards, and two touchdowns. One to Camare Hampton and the second for Jayden Lewis. Lewis as well as the running back Jaydon Thomas received four passes at a time, Lewis for 34 yards and Thomas for 24. Thomas also ran for 31 yards and scored a touchdown.
D.K. Wilson was the leading rusher for D.K. Wilson’s Yellow Jackets with 39 yards on six carries.
Back-up quarterback Maddox Mims threw a 53-yard touchdown pass to Jaylin Robinson in Oxford’s second half touchdown.
