Mineola Yellowjackets vs. Jefferson Bulldogs

LINDALE — Kamran Williams rushed for 172 yards and six touchdowns as Jefferson rallied and then pulled away for a 54-27 Class 3A Division I bi-district football playoff win over Mineola on Thursday at Eagle Stadium in Lindale.

Jefferson moves on to the area round of the playoffs where the Bulldogs will play the Grandview Zebra, a 54-17 win over Whitesboro.

Mineola (2-9) struck first when freshman quarterback Kipton Neighbors tossed a 19-yard scoring pass to Colton McMahon across the middle of the end zone to give the Yellowjackets an early, 7-0 lead over No. 6 state-ranked Jefferson. The score capped off an impressive opening drive that saw Mineola drive 79 yards on nine plays, while chewing up six minutes off the clock.

Jefferson (11-0) answered with a nice scoring drive of its own to tie the game, 7-7, late in the first quarter as UNLV commit Williams delivered a dazzling 20-yard touchdown run that saw him stop on a dime at the sideline before he cut back inside for the final 10-yards to get the Bulldogs on the board.

Mineola lost the first eight games of the season before winning their final two games just to get into the playoffs, but the Yellowjackets certainly weren’t intimidated playing against state-ranked Jefferson early on. Mineola quickly regained the lead when Neighbors tossed a short pass to Ainsley Steward, who outran everyone for a 58-yard score to give the Yellowjackets a 14-7 lead with 10:52 left in the second quarter.

Once again Jefferson answered with a score of their own as Wiliams hit a hole at the line of scrimmage and left everyone in the dust on a 57-yard score down the right side as the Bulldogs cut the deficit to 14-13.

Jefferson forced a stop on defense and took over with great field position near midfield then Williams went back to work as he hit the middle for a 36-yard run then capped the drive with a 1-yard score to give the Bulldogs their first lead of the game, 20-14, with 4:48 left in the first half.

Mineola stalled on their next drive then came up with a big fourth down stop to get the ball back with under a minute left in the first half. The Yellowjackets weren’t content on just running out the clock as Neighbors called his own number and took off down the left side for a 73-yard touchdown to tie the game, 20-20, just before halftime.

Mineola moved the ball into Jefferson territory on their initial drive of the second half but the Yellowjackets were unable to convert a fourth-and-seven at the Bulldogs 35 yard-line.

Jefferson took over and again it was Williams leading the charge with a couple of runs totaling 24 yards which led to a short 2-yard touchdown run by Jeramaine Hopkins to give Jefferson a 26-20 lead late in the third quarter.

Jefferson extended their lead to 34-20 over Mineola when Williams busted loose for a 44-yard score. But Mineola immediately answered with a score of their own when McMahon made a ridiculous grab on a long pass from Neighbors for a 63-yard score as the Yellowjackets trimmed the deficit, 34-27 with 37 seconds left in the third quarter.

Jefferson completely took over the game in the fourth quarter as Williams added a couple of more touchdown runs mixed with a 72-yard punt return for a score by Chris Love.