Rabbs close season with heartbreak loss to Jefferson

Atlanta played Jefferson to the limit last Friday night in its last game of the season.

The Rabbs went up 15-0 early on but two scores by the Bulldogs set the score at 15-13 going into halftime.

Atlanta scored with 1:51 left to go in the contest and went up by seven, but Jefferson forced overtime after scoring on a big touchdown play.

The Bulldogs went on to win 42-36 in overtime.

First Quarter

The two teams traded possessions to begin the contest, but Atlanta settled into a rhythm on its second drive.

On the drive, Atlanta quarterback Jack Plunk hit Ashton Harper for 12 yards, Justin Burns for four yards, La’Randion Dowden for seven and Brendan Clayton for two.

Mike Banks carried the ball for eight yards and Dowden racked up 22 yards on the ground which included a 4-yard touchdown scamper.

Juan Campos hit the PAT and Atlanta was up 7-0 with 2:59 left in the first frame.

Atlanta’s defense stood tall on Jefferson’s next drive and forced a punt.

The quarter ended with Dowden running the ball.

Second Quarter

Three plays into the new quarter and Atlanta was in punt formation facing fourth-and-7.

The Rabbs faked everyone in the stadium out as Banks took a direct snap and ran 29 yards to the Bulldog 40.

From there Dowden scored his second TD of the game as he galloped 40 yards for a score.

Dowden ran in the 2-point try and the Rabbs were up 15-0 with 10:39 left in the first half.

Jefferson scored twice before the half with its latter score coming at the 1:06 mark.

The Bulldogs failed to convert a 2-point attempt and was down 15-13 at the break.

Third Quarter

Jefferson opened the second half of play with a 65- yard march that only produced a field goal.

Atlanta’s defense kept the Bulldogs out of the endzone for three straight plays inside the 13-yard line.

With the field goal Jefferson took its first lead of the game at 16-15 with 8:27 left in the third stanza.

Not to be outdone the Rabbs put together a solid 67-yard march of its own which resulted in points.

On the drive, Dowden accumulated 30 yards on the ground, Plunk hit Cooper McClure for 12 yards and Plunk connected with Ahmani Jackson on a 20- yard TD strike.

Campos hit the PAT and Atlanta was back in the lead at 22-16 with 4:12 left in the third quarter.

The next drive for Jefferson could have been a game changer for the Rabbs.

On the second play of the drive the Bulldog ball carrier was hit and fumbled the ball.

Russell Limbrick scooped the ball up and ran into the endzone for a score, but a personal foul penalty against the Rabbs negated the TD.

That penalty was pivotal because Jefferson went on to score with 2:07 left in the third quarter.

The PAT was no good which knotted the score up at 22-all.

Atlanta had the ball going into the final quarter of play.

Fourth Quarter

Two plays into the fourth frame a pass by Plunk was knocked into the air and intercepted by the Bulldogs.

On Jefferson’s next drive Dowden picked off a pass and returned the ball 90 yards for the pick-6 score.

The PAT was no good but Atlanta was back on top 28-22.

Jefferson scored on its next drive and after the successful PAT went up 29-28 with 8:08 left in the game.

Atlanta’s next drive was a clock-eating drive in which Dowden racked up 20 yards on the ground and Banks added 22 of his own.

The Rabbits pulled within 27 yards of the endzone but turned the ball over on downs.

A quick three-and-out forced by Atlanta’s defense gave the Rabbs the ball back with under four minutes left on the clock.

Banks gained eight yards in two plays before Plunk hit Clayton for 11 yards.

After two penalties against Jefferson and a 6-yard QB scramble by Plunk, the Atlanta field general hit Banks on a 37-yard TD with 1:51 left in the game.

Plunk hit Justin Pierce on the 2-point play and the Rabbs were up 36-29.

The Rabbits were just under a minute and a half from winning the game when Jefferson struck on a 68-yard pass play.

The PAT was good and the score was tied at 36-all with 1:25 left in the game.

Neither team scored again and the game went in to overtime.

OT

A batted ball in the air turned into an interception for the Rabbs as they were driving to score in the overtime frame.

Jefferson scored on its attempt and won the game 42-36.