Courtesy: PolkCountyDemocrat.com
Published: 09/27/2010

By ANDREA YOUNG | Sports Correspondent

Friday night fans packed the stands for the number one rivalry game of the season.

It was a slow start for the Jackets in the first half as the Kathleen Red Devils came to Bartow Memorial Stadium. A tight game marked by incomplete passes and a tight defense resulted in the score of 10-7 with the Red Devils taking the win.

Bartow began the game with flags but quickly rejuvenated themselves as the defensive end took flight against the Red Devils. Kathleen threw several incomplete passes.

Kathleen’s Isaac O’Neal attempted a pass to Alex Sanders but was not successful. After another pass from O’Neal, Bartow’s Rick Holland ruthlessly tackled Marcel Bruce just as the pass was completed. Also on the tackle was Jamal Douglas after an attempt by O’Neal to gain yardage.

The Red Devils could not keep the ball in their possession. Incomplete passes and hard tackles from the Jackets’ defense were bonuses for Bartow in the first half Friday night. The Jackets kept pressing after the Red Devils gained a touchdown and achieved the kick making the score.

Rod Smith recovered the ball at the five-yard line and got to about the 19-yard line. Then, he made it to the 32. After a five-yard run from Buddy Putnam, Smith then made the carry to the 40-yard line.

Bartow also got their share of incomplete passes but it did not bring them down.

Daniel Jackson made a breathtaking tackle against the Devils as they kept the ball in possession for a bit too long. Jeremy Manning also made a strong defensive play as he intercepted a Red Devil ball at the 44-yard line.

The Jackets attempted to make great play but is temporarily held up by the Red Devil defense. At the end of the first half, after a number of incomplete passes by both teams, ultimately the Red Devils, the score was 7-0.

Using halftime to re-up, Bartow came back with a sting.

A pass to Jordan White accompanied by a 69-yard run gained the Jackets their first touchdown of the game. Joe Cannon with the kick marked the score as tied with 7-7 in the beginning of the second half.

Bentley of the Devils with the carry gained yards that cheered the Devil fans up temporarily until Jackets defensive players William Cooper and Jermarcus Cook made a tackle that stopped that Devil in his tracks.

The Devils continued to attempt runs to the end zone but the Jacket defense rose to the occasion. Hard tackles by Bartow and incomplete passes by Kathleen resulted in no success for the Devils.

With the score still 7-7 in the final quarter, the Jackets continued to dominate over the Devils.

It was a back and forth battle between both teams.

With 7.8 seconds left in the game, the Devils made a field goal and ultimately won the game.

Next week, the Jackets return to Bartow Memorial Stadium for their homecoming game against the Fort Meade Miners on Oct. 1.