Rabb, Nettles, Hunt lead way as Bulldogs dominate Hatch
By JOSH FRYE
News Sportswriter
J.U. Blacksher’s Bulldogs celebrated homecoming and a trip to the Class 2A playoffs with a 44-14 stroll past R.C. Hatch last Friday, October 25.
Quarterback K.D. Rabb led the high-octane JUB offense, completing 6 of 10 pass attempts for 84 yards and two touchdowns and rushing for 97 yards on 12 carries. Sophomore JaDaniel Nettles had 9 carries for 77, and senior Jaylin Hunt chipped in 6 carries for 66 yards. Each scored a touchdown.
Rabb kicked the homecoming celebration off, scoring on a 5-yard touchdown rush that was followed by a two-point conversion and an 8-0 lead.
With just over nine minutes left to play in the first quarter, the Bobcats fumbled a kickoff return. The bobbled ball was scooped up by JUB’s J.T. Tucker and the Bulldogs went to work on another scoring drive.
The second Blacksher score was notched by Nettles, who broke a 30-yard dash into the end zone. With elements of wind and rain having set in over the stadium, kicker Andrew Dawson missed his first extra-point kick of the night and the Bulldogs led 14-0.
With just over one second left in the first period, Rabb rushed 25 yards for his second score of the night. Rabb’s scoring scoot put JUB up 20-0 at the end of the quarter.
The home team’s scoring frenzy continued into the second quarter, as Rabb connected with senior Dorien Quarles for a 9-yard touchdown pass that put JUB ahead 26-0 with 6:44 left in the half.
Having missed two PAT kicks in the first quarter, Dawson redeemed himself by notching a 30-yard, fourth down field-goal with five minutes left in the first half. The lead grew to 29-0.
A blocked Hatch punt attempt set up JUB’s final scoring drive of the half. The score came when Rabb connected with Tucker on a 12-yard TD toss.
The scoring catch sent the Bulldogs into the locker room at halftime with a 36-0 lead.
As the third quarter started, a determined R.C. Hatch team found its way onto the field. The Bobcats controlled the football for nearly the entire third quarter, finally finding their way into the endzone on a 4-yard pass. The extra point attempt fell short, and the Hatch trailed 36-6 at the end of the third quarter.
The home team answered the visiting team’s scoring drive quickly, scoring on a 10-yard scramble by Hunt. A faked extra point kick attempt added two more points, and was extended to 44-6.
The Bobcats added their final points, scoring on a 2-yard run, followed by a successful two-point conversion.
Tucker Spence led the JUB defensive effort, racking up six total tackles, and Quarles complemented by registering five tackles.
“We played a great game,” JUB head coach Wes Sims said. “I was very pleased with the work the guys put in, and we were able to pull another one out.”
Blacksher’s third seed status in the AHSAA Class 2A, Region 1 standings granted them a one-way ticket to the first round of the 2019 playoffs, where JUB will travel to face Abbeville’s Yellowjackets during the first round of playoffs on Friday, November 8.
Abbeville will face Headland in its final regular season game this Friday, November 1, before hosting JUB.