Quarterback Jakobe Jackson joined an exclusive Crimson Tide rushing club Friday, racing for 224 yards and three touchdowns on just 12 carries to lead Minden to a 39-27 win over the North Webster Knights in Springhill to lead his team to its first win of the season.
Jackson’s touchdown runs were all from long range with scores coming from 88, 62 and 56 yards. The junior signal caller also passed for 79 yards and one touchdown for the game as he racked up 303 of Minden’s 434 yards in total offense in the Webster Parish shootout.
North Webster claimed a 7-0 lead with just over seven minutes remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Collin McKenzie connected with Cooper Sanders for a 72-yard touchdown pass. It was a play that ignited a scoring frenzy by the Tide.
On the first play following the Knights’ kickoff, Jackson broke loose for 62 yards, bringing the Tide closer at 7-6 after a failed extra point attempt. Just 30 seconds later, Minden recovered a North Webster fumble at the Knights’ 35 and Jackson quickly hit Jaylin Williams with a scoring toss to put the Tide on top 13-7.
Minden would score again less than a minute later after recovering a Knights fumble at the four-yard line. On second and goal, Daylen Robinson powered into the endzone and the Tide led 19-7. North Webster made it 19-14 when Sanders scampered 52 yards for the score on the final play of the first quarter.
A golden opportunity for another Tide score slipped away in the second quarter when North Webster fell on a fumble in its endzone, ending a promising 58-yard drive following the kickoff. But the Knights returned the favor when Minden recovered a fumble at its 12-yard line with just over three minutes remaining in the half.
That recovery set the stage for Jackson’s longest TD run of the evening when on the first play following the fumble, he ran the option off tackle, cut upfield and outdistanced defenders for 88 yards. With the successful PAT, Minden led 26-14 at the half.
An interception halted a promising Tide third quarter drive, and North Webster pulled within one score at the three and a half minute mark when Jkobe Lawson sped 72 yards down the sideline to paydirt. A failed kick left the Knights trailing 26-20, and gave Minden’s Jackson another chance to break some hearts.
Again, on the first play following a North Webster kickoff, Jackson broke loose for 56 yards and his third score of the night, putting Minden up 33-20. North Webster would again pull to within one score just minutes later when McKenzie hit Gregory Davis on a 31-yard TD pass to make it 33-27 after three quarters.
Minden’s defense rose to the occasion in the fourth quarter, holding the Knights scoreless while Robinson tacked on the final score of the evening, a 27-yard TD run with just 55 seconds remaining in the game. It was Robinson’s 25th touchdown of his Minden career.
Jackson, with his 224 yards, led all rushers while Robinson netted 79 yards on 12 carries. Also for the Tide, Cameron Mitchell picked up 28 yards on four carries and Brian Swan added 24 yards on four carries.
Lawson had 110 yards and one touchdown on 10 carries to lead North Webster. Sanders had nine attempts worth 79 yards before leaving the game with a leg injury. Braedon Robertson added 76 yards on 14 rushes as the Knights totaled 256 yards on the ground for the game.
In the passing department, Jackson was 3-of-10 for 79 yards and one touchdown, but McKenzie won the air dual completing 12-for-21 and 214 yards and two touchdowns. McKenzie had two throws intercepted; Jackson had one picked off. North Webster racked up 470 yards in total offense for the game, but suffered five turnovers that proved costly.
Next action for Minden comes Friday night when a tough North DeSoto team comes calling for the Crimson Tide Homecoming. It will also be the Tide’s opening District 1-4A contest. North Webster will be hosting Richwood Friday.
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