By Bobby Wilson

BHS Sports

The Prentiss Bulldogs and fans came onto Howard Willoughby Field this past Friday night with a shimmer of hope that this might be the year that the tide turned and they would get the elusive win that they have not had for many, many years.

The Yellowjackets put up 28 points in a span of six minutes and five seconds of the first quarter.

Prentiss defense showed a flicker of fire on the Jackets opening possession by forcing a rare punt by the Jackets by holding them to a three and out.

Two negative runs and an incomplete pass and the Bulldogs offense was heading to the bench.

Seven total plays played by the two teams and the wheels came off the Bulldogs for the rest of the first quarter.

Two runs and a good tight end pass and it was suddenly first and goal for the Jackets. Two more runs and CJ Moore, pain and all, powered in from one yard out. Mancuso PAT good and Jackets were up 7-0 at the 5:55 mark of first quarter.

Two Bulldog plays later and sophomore Racheem Boothe, proudly wearing #57, picked up a Prentiss fumble and the Jackets offense was back on the field.

A leaping catch by Kameron Williams for 30 yards and it was 1st and goal again. This time it was power running of T-Rod Daniels scoring from five yards out. Mancuso PAT good, and at the 2:33 mark of the first, Jackets led 14-0.

The Bulldogs ran two more plays -1 and a sack for -3 by James Hinton and Prentiss had nowhere to go. The next play, the Bulldogs put the ball on the ground and Jamal Peters picked it up and went 18 yards for another Jacket touchdown. Mancuso PAT good. Jackets led 21-0 at the 1:39 mark.

The next play on offense by the Bulldogs, found no one wanting to hold on to the ball, so Josh Applewhite of the Jackets defense wanted it and so he picked it up at the 35 yard line. The Jackets second one play touchdown drive of the season came on the next play as CJ Moore hit Jamal Peters for 35 yards, but a holding call on the catch and run put the ball at the 25 yard line. CJ hit Kameron Williams in the far corner of the end zone on another beautiful leap and catch. The Jackets were running away with this one after the 44th PAT in a row by Mancuso put the Jackets on top 28-0 still with 59 ticks left in the first quarter.

Prentiss got positive yards on their next possession gaining two yards in three plays and punting again. For the fourth of five possessions the Jackets marched straight down field, but a Bulldog defensive stop forced a field goal attempt by Mancuso from the 36-yard line. Straight down the middle of the uprights for the longest field goal of his career and the Jackets led 31-0.

A negative 4-yard drive and Prentiss punted again resulting in the Jackets driving eight plays and finishing off the drive was none other than junior running back Kenny Island. After a good run of eight yards and finished off with a one yard run, Island got his first career touchdown. PAT good by Mancuso. Jackets 38-0.

A second positive series by Prentiss of four yards, but that is where it ended and the Bulldogs punted again. The Jackets ran one play and the half, came to an end.

The second half began. Starting -2 yards and then a fumble recovered again by James Hinton at the Bulldogs 19 yard line.

Under the quarterbacking of back-up Josh Applewhite, five running plays, capped off by T-Rod Daniels one-yard run and second touchdown of the evening. Mancuso streak of 42 consecutive PAT was ruled no good, but Jackets were in “walking away” mode leading 44-0.

Another three and out and the third sack of the evening forced Prentiss to punt back to the Jackets, but this time, the punt team were out done by the dart and dash running of Tra Darren Cook as he went 55 yards for a punt return touchdown. Jackets extended its blow out to 51- 0.

The varsity of the Prentiss Bulldogs finally got something going against the tiring JV squad of the Jackets. A 66-yard drive ended when Martez Brown went 44 yards for a Bulldog score. PAT no good.

Gerald Reese got in on the Jacket action, by completing the Jackets 2nd one play drive of the season going 55 yards immediately following the Bulldogs score. Mancuso kicked his second consecutive PAT and the Jackets were running away with this one 58-0.

Prentiss ran a 13-play drive that ended with the Jackets JV defense making a goal line stand and holding off the Bulldogs forcing a turnover on downs with 1:20 left in the game. Trying to run out the clock with their backs to the Bulldog goal line, third string quarterback Timothy Arnold ran out of the end zone, looking like he was going 99 yards, but running out of gas at the 40 yard line, he was finally caught up with and tackled at the 35. The clock.

“You started slow, but played with a lot of intensity. Great job by the JV squad. Next week we will be playing a team that has been waiting 365 days for payback. You embarrassed them last year (62-18). I don’t want you to talk to anyone, or say anything about this game, just go out and win this one – win this one for me,” Mancuso told the team over dueling bands at mid-field.

Collins is the next destination of the Jackets. It is an old grudge match that goes back to the 1960s that has escalated over the past few years. Collins still has not won under the Mancuso era. Game time 7:00 p.m.

•  By the numbers:

0 first downs given up by the Varsity Jacket defense

6 plays by the Jackets offense in the second half, scoring 20 points

3 fumbles by Prentiss all resulting in Jacket points

3rd game that the 1st team defense did not allow 100 yards rushing

-8 yards rushing given up in this game by the 1st team defense

0 yards passing by the Jackets in the game

41 offensive plays by the Bulldogs, resulting in only 6 points.