Rabbits keep playoff hopes alive with 28-24 win over Jefferson

Atlanta entered last week’s contest against Jefferson on a two-game losing streak which put its playoffs hopes in peril. The game was a classic Atlanta-Jefferson battle as the two teams traded scores like two boxers in the ring trading punches. A late fumble recovery by the Rabbs sealed a 28-24 victory for Atlanta and kept the playoff push alive in a crazy district which could see a jumble of teams tied for first place depending on how the next two weeks pan out.

First Quarter

After a rain-soaked Senior Night ceremony, this game got underway. Atlanta won the toss and elected to receive the ball. The Rabbs opened the drive with a couple of runs by senior running back Dra Nelson who was playing with shoulder issues. Unfortunately, a three-and-out put the Rabbs in punt formation with 10:33 on the clock. Jefferson began its first drive at the 39-yard line. The Bulldogs went on a 13-play drive which ate up five minutes off the clock and ended with a touchdown at the 5:32 mark. The successful PAT put Jefferson up 7-0. Atlanta’s next drive ended like its first one…with a three-and-out at the 4:25 mark. The Rabbit defense limited the Bulldogs from making big plays on the next drive and after a three-and-out, Jefferson punted the ball back to Atlanta with 3:22 left in the first quarter. On the drive Nelson picked up five yards, sophomore running back Keith Kinney gained seven yards on the ground and Rabbit quarterback Kade Wood made a couple of nice completions to Terunte Neal (10 yards) and Alijuah Drayton (10 yards). The quarter ended with Atlanta facing second-downand-9 from the Jefferson 28.

Second Quarter

Wood opened the second stanza with a 3-yard pickup followed by Nelson who gained 17 yards on two carries. Kinney took the ball from the 8-yard line to the halfyard line where Nelson finished off the 13-play drive with a touchdown. Daniel Hernandez split the uprights on the PAT and the score was tied 7-all with 10:13 left in the first half. Jefferson opened its first drive of the new quarter with a big run from its own 36 to the Rabbit 34, but a very stout defensive stand by the Rabbs pushed the Bulldogs backwards to the 49. From there Jefferson punted the ball away with 10:13 on the clock. Kinney carried the rock on three carries for six, 13 and 20 yards respectively before Nelson picked up four yards on second down. The Rabbits, however, were in punt formation three plays later with 6:19 left in the second quarter. A nice punt by Cooper McClure pinned the Bulldogs at the 10-yard line. Jefferson eventually worked its way from the 10-yard line to the Rabbit 49-yard line where the Bulldogs would score a touchdown, but a penalty negated the score. The next play from scrimmage could have been another touchdown for Jefferson but Rabbit defender Jackson Warren laid out and swatted the ball away from an open receiver. Three play later Jefferson was in punt formation with 1:48 left in the second frame. Atlanta began its next drive at the 15-yard line. From there both Nelson and Kinney picked up nice gains on solid runs but a penalty against the Rabbits threatened the drive. With time winding down Wood hit Neal on a 70-yard pass play which put the Rabbs down at the 10-yard line but time had expired with the play in progress.

Third Quarter

Jefferson received the ball to open the second half. The Bulldogs made it as far as the Rabbit 9-yard line looking for another touchdown but the Rabbit defense stood tall and forced Jefferson to attempt a field goal. The Bulldog kicker nailed the 26-yard attempt and Jefferson was up 10-7 with 8:12 left in the third quarter. Atlanta began its next drive at the 9-yard line and from there Nelson picked up 11 yards on the first carry. Wood connected with Drayton on a 24-yard pass before Kinney picked up 37 yards on three carries which put the Rabbs at the Bulldogs’ 20-yard line. Nelson scored on the eighth play of the drive from 20 yards out to put Atlanta back on top. Hernandez hit the PAT and the Rabbs posted a 14-10 lead with 5:23 left in the third stanza. With the momentum shift, Jefferson had trouble moving the ball against the Rabbit defense on the first two plays of the next drive, but a crazy pass connection from the Bulldogs’ QB to his receiver on the third play from scrimmage resulted in a long touchdown pass. The PAT was good and Jefferson was back on top 17-14 with 3:50 left in the quarter. Atlanta had a few precise plays by Wood, Kinney, Nelson and Cody Maxie on its next drive but the Rabbs turned the ball over on downs at the Jefferson 31 with 51 seconds left on the clock after the referees asked for a measurement and the Rabbs had come up short by a fray of the football. It only took one big run by the Bulldogs on the first play from scrimmage to get deep into Rabbit country as time expired.

Fourth Quarter

Three plays into the final quarter and Jefferson was back in the endzone with an 8-yard run across the goal line. The PAT was good and Jefferson increased its lead to 24-14 with 10:33 left in the game. Atlanta never wavered or felt rushed on its next drive as Wood connected with Drayton for 22 yards on the first play. Wood connected with Kinney on a 19-yard play on third down which put the ball inside Jefferson territory down to the 29. From there Wood connected with Fields for a 29-yard touchdown. Hernandez hit the PAT and the Rabbs closed the gap at 24-21 with 8:56 left in the fourth quarter. Jefferson’s next drive chiseled four minutes off the clock but a stout stand by the Rabbit defense forced the Bulldogs to punt at the 4:50 mark after the ninth play of the drive ended with a sack. Working from the 25-yard line Nelson picked up 14 yards followed by a 5-yard pickup by Wood. Nelson picked up more yardage on the next two carries which put the Rabbs at midfield. After a penalty pushed the Rabbits back five yards, Wood took the next snap and passed the ball to Drayton who passed the ball back to Wood who had a wall of maroon blockers. Wood picked up 14 yards on the trick play and directly after Kinney bolted into the endzone from 41 yards out to give the Rabbits the lead. Hernandez hit the PAT and Atlanta was up 28-24 with 2:20 left on the clock. Jefferson fumbled the ball away to the Rabbs on the first play of its next drive but Atlanta couldn’t capitalize and punted the ball back to the Bulldogs with 1:35 left in the game. Another great punt by McClure pinned the Bulldogs at the 1-yard line. Needing 99 yards to win the game Jefferson picked up 14 yards in just one play. After a short run and a penalty against the Bulldogs Atlanta’s defense stepped up one more time and forced a turnover as Jefferson’s QB was running with the rock. With just 24 seconds left on the clock, Wood kneeled once and the ball game was over. The Rabbs earned a hard-fought 28-24 win and kept its playoff hopes alive. Atlanta is off this week but will be back in action Friday, Nov. 8, as they take on Hooks at Hornet Stadium. Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.