MRA can’t hang on, Prep scores late to advance

Southern Sports & Travel

With 1:44 remaining in regulation senior quarterback Caleb Shufelt connected with Karter Bounds for a 28 yard touchdown pass to cap an 80 yard, 10 play drive to give third ranked MRA a 21-17 lead over second ranked and defending Class AAA Division-I champion Jackson Prep.

What transpired next was a textbook 81 yard, 10 play drive orchestrated by Prep junior quarterback Gene Wood that ripped the hearts out of MRA and their fans.

Wood hit wide-out Parker Caracci with a 12 yard score with 1 second remaining to propel Jackson Prep into next week’s Class AAA Division-I championship against arch-rival Jackson Academy.

Jackson Prep overcame a horrid first half of play in which the Patriots were held to less than 100 yards of total offense and virtually shut out on the ground.

MRA grabbed the first lead of the night at the 1:15 mark of the second quarter when Caleb Shufelt scored from 1 yard out but Prep mounted what would be a critical scoring drive in the closing moments of the half to grab some much needed momentum.

Prep would move from their own 23 yard line to the MRA 17 in seven plays to set up a Parker Caracci 34 yard field goal to close the half trailing 7-3.

Jackson Prep’s momentum evaporated quickly in the third quarter as MRA took their opening possession and scored on their first snap as junior tailback Zack Everhart sprinted 73 yards for a touchdown to extend MRA’s advantage to 14-3 with 9:54 remaining in the third quarter.

Jackson Prep responded as Gene Wood guided the Patriots on an 80 yard, 6 play drive that culminated on a Wood to Caracci 11 yard hook up at the 8:23 mark of the quarter to trim the deficit to 14-10.

Prep would grab their first lead of the night late in the fourth quarter on an Ian McGraw 3 yard draw play to finish off a 72 yard drive and give the defending champions a 17-14 edge.

Just as Prep appeared to have gained complete control of the contest MRA fired back as Caleb Shufelt guided his squad 80 yards in 10 plays and regained the lead on a 4^th and 4 from the Prep 28 yard line. Shufelt hit Karter Bounds for the score and Austin Scott’s PAT gave MRA a 21-17 lead with just 1:44 left in the game.

MRA’s elation quickly turned sour as Jackson Prep’s Gene Wood conducted a masterful game winning drive to give Prep their sixth straight win over MRA.

Gene Wood went 16/31 for 227 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception to lead Jackson Prep. Ian McGraw rushed for 67 yards on 12 carries and a touchdown and Parker Caracci had 5 receptions for 67 yards and 2 scores.

Junior tailback Zack Everhart led the MRA (8-4) offense with 190 yards rushing on 23 carries and a touchdown and Clint Moses added 70 yards on 14 carries.

MRA quarterback Caleb Shufelt went 10/17 for 125 yards, a touchdown and 2 interceptions.
Jackson Prep was held to 2 yards rushing on the night and 236 total yards.
MRA massed 393 total yards, 267 on the ground.

Jackson Prep improves to 11-2 on the season and will look to win their 20^th state football title next week against top ranked Jackson Academy.