On a warm and humid Friday night the undefeated Jacksonville Golden Eagles hosted the Anniston Bulldogs. The Golden Eagles had one goal in mind, to keep their winning streak alive. Jacksonville started the quarter strong as Jacksonville’s #15, Jewels Gray scored a touchdown with 8:53 remaining on the clock. The two-point conversion was no good leaving the score at 6-0 with the Eagles taking the lead. While the touchdown was being scored an Anniston player had suffered a suspected serious injury. #8 Maliq Myles, sustained a possible dislocated knee causing the game to stop for an injury time out. Players of both sides took a knee while Jacksonville Fire Department Medics were called in to transport him from the field to an awaiting ambulance.
Photo by Brody Stanfield
Anniston felt the need to push harder because of the injured teammate and quickly evened the score with 8:02 left on the clock; the failed extra point tying the score at 6-6. The remainder of the 1st quarter remains a battle for ground with neither team scoring further points.
As the 2nd quarter starts Anniston made many attempts to break through Jacksonville’s defense often failing and being set back. After realizing the current strategy wasn’t working the Anniston coach calls the first timeout of the game with 10:15 on the clock. Afterwards Jacksonville ran the ball to the 26-yard line for the first down. Jacksonville’s #4, Rontarious Wiggins charged through Anniston’s players scoring a touchdown with 7:41 left. The Golden Eagles attempted a two-point conversion but was unsuccessful making the score 12-6.
The halftime show consisted of the Anniston Bulldogs Marching Band leading off with a strong performance and then followed up with the Golden Eagles Marching Band. The Golden Eagles Marching Band played “Man in the Mirror” by Michael Jackson, “Getting to Know You” from the King and I, and closed with “This is Me” from the Greatest Showman.
During 3rd quarter play, Jacksonville’s #4, Rontarious Wiggin’s, was able to score with 6:02 on the clock. A successful two point conversion put the score at 20-6 with the Eagles leading. With only 13 seconds left in the 3rd quarter #1, Omarian Adams, ran the ball into the end zone for another touchdown. The extra point is missed and the score is updated to 26-6.
Jacksonville understands they have to continue to battle the Anniston Bulldogs during the 4th quarter in order to maintain their lead. Jacksonville’s #4, Rontarious Wiggins does not allow Anniston’s defense to stop him as scores another touchdown. During the run, Wiggins had thrown up a peace sign in victory and a flag was thrown. The call was unsportsmanlike conduct. The touchdown was allowed but the Eagles received a penalty the next play. With a good extra point being kicked the score was changed to 33-6. Anniston was able to push back against Jacksonville and scored a touchdown with 4:20 left on the clock in 4th quarter. A failed two point conversion changed the score to 33-12. With only 53.2 seconds left on the clock Jacksonville’s #11, Jae’Taj Morris ran the ball in for another touchdown. The 2 point conversion was good making the score 40-12. Anniston had one last push and manages to score with 18 seconds left on the clock. The Bulldogs had a good two point conversion bringing the score to 40-20. Although Anniston played hard their efforts to end the undefeated streak of Jacksonville were unsuccessful. The final score was 40-20 bringing The Jacksonville Golden Eagles season record to 7-0.
After the game reporter Matthew Fuller was able to interview a few players from the Golden Eagles.
Photo by Brody Stanfield
Star player of tonight’s game Rontarious (Ron) Wiggins, #4 stayed focused saying that his team ‘’Still has details to work on but we gave it all we had’’ and also stated he regretted the peace sign he threw up during 4th quarter saying ‘’I’d take that back because it cost my team a penalty.’’ Wiggins is currently in the Mr. Football poll on Al.com. He wanted to say that he was “Very thankful for everybody that’s voting’’ and encouraged more to go vote.
Photo by Brody Stanfield
Cole Gaddy, #68 stated ‘’Anniston gave us a heck of a game’’. Gaddy said he knew going into this game that ‘’Anniston is a good ball team and will give us a tough battle’’ but underestimated just how hard they would play.
Photo by Brody Stanfield
Jewels Gray, who scored the first touchdown of this Fridays game said that he ‘’Never slept on Anniston, I knew they were a good team and coach kept telling us they were good’’ and also stated that he knew Anniston’s injured player personally and that ‘’Our hearts go out to him he played a good game’’
Photo by Brody Stanfield
Omarian Adams, #1 said they ‘’Felt really good’’ going into this game and that they were ‘’6 and 0 we just knew we had to keep it going’’ he congratulated the other players in the game and stated ‘’Were going to state this year’’
Photo by Matthew Fuller
Apart from the football players we were able to get an interview with band member Gabe Mobley, who said ‘’I think we did a really good job tonight’’ and the band’s goal was to ‘’Keep the players and the crowd pumped up and hyped until the end of the game, and I think we did that’’. He then stated that despite having ‘’Technical difficulties in the first couple of songs when it came to electronics we got past the issues and performed well”
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