The Huddle: Coach Demetris Royal's local football highlights - "The Battle of the Yellow Jackets"

A special Monday night football game was played on Labor Day and the Lexington Yellow Jackets stood up to the challenge. What was supposed to go down on a Friday night as the battle of the Yellow Jackets got postponed due to weather concerns. 

The 1-0 Carver Yellow Jackets came to the hive to battle against the 0-1 Lexington Yellow Jackets for rights to be called the real Yellow Jackets. With a sunny 6:00 p.m. kick off,

Lexington received the first kick off from Carver winning the coin toss and deferring to the second half. Lexington had a slow first drive that ended up with Lexington Senior High’s Hugo Martinez Rodriguez delivering the first punt of the game. Carver matched Lexington with a slow drive as well, which ended up with Carver punting and giving Lexington the ball right back. 

The Lexington offense, still working out the kinks, had another slow drive that ended up with another Hugo punt. Carver moved the ball on their next drive which had the Lexington defense on their heels. A misdirected play landed Carvers big yards and earned them some good field position. Luckily for Lexington the defense stood tall and forced a punting situation. Carver’s punt landed Lexington in a bad field position to start their next drive. 

On the next Lexington drive, Kamari McDonald had a big catch that helped Qwazir Craven a few plays later to bring in the first touchdown of the game. Hugo added an extra point to put Lexington up 7-0 early in the second quarter. 

On the next kickoff Carver had a facemask penalty called on them that pinned them deep to start their next drive. This penalty would be costly and end up aiding in Carver having to punt. The punt ended up being a favor for Lexington as they would start their next drive in good field position only 37 yards away from the goal line. Unfortunately, Lexington couldn't take advantage and add a touchdown to their lead but yet had to settle for a field goal from senior Hugo putting Lexington up 10-0.

 Carver’s running back on the next drive broke a bring run that gained Carver some good field position. Linebacker Peja Ellis caught a huge interception on 3rd and long for Lexington that ended up being stripped by Carver and having Carver retain possession and obtain a fresh set of downs. 

In the last play of the first half, Lexington fans were in shock at a non-call on a push off that ended up resulting in a touchdown for Carver as a last second hail mary was completed. Carver rolled the dice and dialed up a successful trick play as part of a two point conversion that seemed to catch Lexington off guard. This ended the Half with Lexington on top 10-8. 

Carver opened up with another slow drive that ended up in them punting. Lexington's next drive was halted by a fumble giving the ball back to Carver. Carver’s next drive would end up being a thrown interception to Lexington’s Kamari McDonald .

 Things seem to start to turn in Lexington to favor when senior Quarterback Jaylen Henderson found classmate and Wideout Naquel Wood for 3 straight completions and a touchdown. Lexington showed Carver that they had some tricks up their Sleeves as senior K’brian Robinson converted on a 2 point conversion trick play making 18-8 towards the end of the 3rd quarter. 

Early in the forth the dynamic duo Henderson and Wood hooked up for a 60 yard pass, with a Hugo extra point that put Lexington up 25-8. Junior Collin Weeks linked up with senior Rahzel Ewart for another 4th quarter Lexington touchdown. Late in the 4th quarter senior Rahzel Ewart answered the call again by taking an interception for a touchdown. Reliable Hugo

added an extra point to make it 39-8. Carver would score another touchdown later in the 4th to make it 39-14. 

My Take From the Football Game: 

There was a good atmosphere at the hive tonight and great to see fans supporting the teams and being positive. It was a joy to see the smiles on the players and the coaches faces as if they felt like they saw what they are capable of doing. There is still a long way to go and work that needs to be done, but tonight was a good starting point for the program as our seniors helped lead the way to victory. The Line on both sides of the ball held strong for Lexington in the battle of the trenches. The coaches and players seem to have made some adjustments from the first game that aided in the win tonight. Senior Quarterback Jaylen Henderson has shown that he is capable of leading this team with running ability as well as the chemistry he has with senior running back Qwazir Craven with the read option and keeping his connection with his receivers in his bag. 

My MVP’s: Naquel Wood and Rahzel Ewart 

Players on Offense: Jaylen Henderson, Qwazir Craven, Hugo Martinez Players on Defense: Peja Ellis , Tylik Henry ,

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