Total team effort leads Raiders past Pound

Cody Dalton
Sports Writer

Pound – With touchdowns on all sides of the ball, J.I. Burton cruised past Pound, 55-14, in Lonesome Pine District play on Friday.

The Raiders (6-0, 4-0) started the first half with a bang. After a Pound punt, Burton would get on the board, as running back Jaycob Coleman ran 33 yards for a touchdown. The two point conversion was good and Burton had the early 8-0 lead.

Following a Jaymil Sensabaugh interception, Burton would get the ball back. On the second play of the drive, Martinez Miles ran for a 15 yard touchdown.

Pound would once again be held to a three and out. They would punt, but Coleman would again shine, as he returned the punt 54 yards for the touchdown. Coleman led the Raiders with 62 yards rushing and three touchdowns (one for a punt return).

Before the end of the first quarter, Miles would score again, on a five yard run. At the end of one quarter, Burton led 30-0.

After a Pound interception at the end of the first, Coleman would score again on a 34 yard run.

Pound would get the ball back. On the very first play of the drive, Burton would suffer a huge loss, as Jaycob Coleman would be injured on the play. With the help of his coaches, he was helped off the field and did not return.

Coleman wouldn’t be the only casualty. On the very next play, Pound quarterback Nathaniel Mullins would throw an interception to Devin Talley, who returned it 84 yards for the touchdown.

Mullins would attempt to tackle Talley, but was injured. He lay motionless on the ground for a short period of time. He would taken off the field on a stretcher and in to an ambulance.

To end the half, Burton would score once more on a Josh Miles 10 yard run. The score at halftime was 49-0 in favor of the Raiders.

Coming out of the halftime break, the Pound players came out fired up and eager to get on to the board. They would drive the ball 72 yards, which resulted in an Erik Bolling 1-yard run.

The two teams would exchange possession once, before Burton received ball again. For the final time in the third quarter, Burton would score on a 75 yard run by Devin Talley.

The final score of the game came on a 19 yard run senior running back Chris Hughes. Burton took the game, 55-14.

Coach Jimbo Adams seemed pleased with his team’s total effort on all sides of the ball.

“I think we came out with energy in all phases,” Adams said. “Defense set the tone in the first of the game. It carried over into special teams. We had both a defensive score and a special team’s score. That is what we challenged them to do. Play for each other and come out and play hard early.”

Despite what was on the scoreboard, Pound coach Chris Crabtree is pleased with overall effort of his players.

“The score doesn’t indicate it, but this is the hardest that we have played all year,” Crabtree said. “I thought that our boys gave the best they could and didn’t shy away or back down. We just couldn’t catch them. Playing as a team, this is the best we have played all year.”

Crabtree gave his evaluation about the injury of his Nathaniel Mullins, but didn’t have complete answers.

“We know it is a hip injury, but aren’t sure how extensive it is,” Crabtree said. “That was on a late hit on a pass. He had also suffered a knee injury from running into the wall. We don’t know, but we are going to go check on him.”

Adams also had an update on the injury of Jaycob Coleman and was optimistic about his injury not be significant.

“From talking to him, I am thinking it is hyper extended or it might have popped out,” Adams said. “Either way, I don’t think it is serious. We won’t know until we get back. That is just my gut feeling from talking to him.”

Both teams will be on the road next week as Pound journeys to Twin Valley, while Burton travels to Honaker.