Three interceptions, big second quarter deliver Dublin win in debut at Jasper County

Friday’s season opener in Monticello had all the hallmarks of a workaday Dublin win on the road. 

The Irish didn’t blow the lid off, but left no doubt either as they soundly took care of the fall’s first piece of business in a 32-0 shutout of Jasper County. 

Offensively, there was little explosiveness, but a lot of efficiency running the football, and occasionally throwing it as well. For their defense, it was a customarily dominant showing complete with three interceptions (one a pick-six), the equivalent of two fourth-down stops and a blocked field goal that frustrated each of the Hurricanes’ efforts at points on the other side. 

As always, Dublin made the most of the first half’s ending, and a possession to start the second, in a span of roughly 12 minutes around the break that contained all four of its offensive touchdowns. 

For the Irish, just a typical night at the office. 

They’ll take a 1-0 record back home Friday to play their Shamrock Bowl opener against long-lost rival Perry. 

Trav Bostic scored touchdowns from separate sides of the ball for the first and last in the sequence of highlights. 

He stepped free of some attempted tackles after clearing the line of scrimmage, and accelerated 41 yards to deliver the final offensive blow about five minutes out of halftime. 

The opening haymaker came from the opposite hand, as the senior hauled back an interception for Dublin’s first TD on just the third play from scrimmage, after plays for loss put Jasper County in a third and long on its first series. 

‘Canes quarterback Wailer Sands rolled left, and was pressured all the way to the sideline before releasing an ill-advised throw off his back foot toward a receiver with Irish defenders in front and back. He didn’t notice Bostic, waiting underneath, until Bostic pedaled back to steal the pass, and returned it 35 yards for the early 6-0 lead. 

Kye Young would dive to pick another one on Jasper County’s next play from scrimmage, as an off-balance heave strayed several yards toward the middle of the field, though nothing immediately resulted as Dublin’s first turn on offense ended in a punt. 

The Irish D flexed some more of its muscle up front after giving some ground later in the first quarter. 

Ryland Yates’ punt pinned the ‘Canes in dreadful field position from their 5, though they found a spark on third down by fanning out three receivers to lighten up the middle, and Kemaryon Whidby hit a seam for 34 yards to nearly midfield. An extra 15 via facemask foul put it at the Dublin 40. 

But the Irish, unfazed, recovered to force a punt. They brought five on the ensuing third down, and Sands, despite running his way out of a sack from Jaydon McRae, skipped a running throw incomplete. 

They wouldn’t surrender another first down till the second half, as Blake Luecke opened Jasper County’s next series with a tackle for major loss that led to a punt. The Hurricanes did most of the work to send things in reverse for their next quick three-and-out, which ended with a low snap, and a kneeling collection by their punter to give the ball over at a spot only six yards from the end zone. 

A five-minute scoring drive to start the third quarter had Dublin in position to force a running clock in the fourth. But that possibility was put in danger as Jasper County got a big break, and a big play, as its next drive threatened a response. 

A first down via pass interference got things moving. Then Jonterrious Robinson took one down to the 15 after a catch, and the ‘Canes were suddenly knocking on the door. 

The Irish once again dug their cleats in, and forced a field goal attempt that Kye Young ran off the edge and dove to block. 

It was another massive stand, and the last big one the defense would need as the fourth quarter ticked away quickly. 

Jasper County’s final drive did clear midfield on some slow progress, but was again cut short as JaKarian Jones undercut a receiver in a one-on-one matchup for the third interception of the night as time was set to expire. 

Getting warmed up…

As you’d anticipate in game 1 of the regular season, it took a bit of time for Dublin to get things in gear on the offensive side. 

But the Irish would find their stride early in the second quarter, and score three times before half to take a 25-0 lead. 

The opening drive of the first was going well for a series or two until a penalty got it off track, and a third-down sack forced a punt. 

Dublin got to run only two plays before quarter’s end on its next touch, but picked back up in the second to cover most of the field on a drive of more than five minutes. 

The Irish spent most of it still waiting on a first big play, churning out a steady 3-8 per rush on the way to two easy first downs, and a third that required a third-and-short sneak by Yates, who got thrown back from the line on a first effort, but circled to his right for a second that moved the chains. 

The first double-digit gain of the night followed as V.J. Bond shook his way past a linebacker, and leaked to the left for roughly 10 or 11 yards. He’d get tripped up on an ensuing speed sweep to likely save an earlier touchdown. But it didn’t take long to punch it in as Matthew Batts kept balance on his way through the pile to score from 11 yards out. 

Dublin opted to go for two here, after Jasper County blocked its earliest point-after try, but Yates’ scramble was stopped a bit shy of the goal line to keep the score 12-0. 

With 7:15 left in the half, the game snowballed in traditional fashion. 

Two plays after a Jasper County punt to roughly midfield, Bond took a reverse handoff left, tiptoed the sideline and rolled in from 47. 

There wasn’t far to go upon the next takeover, and the Irish needed just one play to cover the few yards they had left as Jamarcus Knight swept in. 

Mitchell, who pulled one left on the previous PAT, knocked this one home to make it 25-0. 

Another Jasper punt left just 20 seconds on the clock, and with 60 yards to drive, Dublin settled for a simple draw play and called it a half. 

The Irish narrowly recovered from a penalty deduction only a series into their next drive, but Yates completed a stop route to his receiver, and leaned for the first down on a fourth and short in his own territory.

The rest of the drive was smooth sailing, and Bostic’s touchdown run came a matter of plays later. 

Yates had another nice third-down completion off a roll that led to a big play to flip the field, but Dublin would be stopped on a fourth down with six minutes left to go, and denied any further chance to add on to the lead.