Wildcats rush past Jacksboro

Special to the Register

NORTH RICHLAND HILLS — The Callisburg Wildcats opened their 2009 playoff run Saturday night with a 46-19 win over the Jacksboro Tigers at Birdville Athletic Complex. The Wildcats used a powerful running game to overpower the Tigers to take the Class 2A bi-district title.

Callisburg quarterback Bobby Dorman rushed for 230 yards in the first half and finished with 274 yards and three touchdowns for the game. He also completed 5 of 7 passes for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Running back Langston Jones rushed for 140 yards on 10 carries and a touchdown along with a pass reception for 26 yards. Kevin Bartley led the receiving corps with catches of 47 and 32 yards, both for touchdowns.

Jacksboro quarterback Kole Weldon led the Tiger offense with 21 carries for 108 yards with a touchdown while completing 9 of 16 passes for 100 yards and one touchdown. Running back Brandon Little carried the ball 20 times for 85 yards.

On the opening drive of the game the Wildcats started at their own 38-yard line and quickly moved the ball down the field behind the running of Dorman and Jones. The big play was a 46-yard run by Dorman that took the ball to the Jacksboro 17. Later from the 4-yard line on third down, Jones took a pitch to the left and appeared to reach the end zone but the official ruled him down inches from the goal line. On fourth down Dorman attempted a sneak but was also called down inches short, turning the ball over on downs. Jacksboro completed a pass from Weldon to McCall Maddox for a first down but then the Callisburg defense stiffened forcing a punt.

Following the punt Callisburg took over on their own 41. After an 11-yard pass to Cole Wescoat and runs by Dorman and Jones, Dorman kept on an option play around the left side and raced 38 yards for the score.

Jacksboro answered on their next possession. Following a 27-yard kickoff return by Little, the Tigers started at their own 37. Jacksboro moved the ball quickly down the field with alternating runs by Little and Weldon, highlighted by a 24-yard run by Little. Little evened the score with an 11-yard run off left tackle. Hector Guerra's PAT was good, knotting the score at 7-7.

On the following possession, Callisburg started at the 23-yard line. On the first play Jones took the handoff off right tackle, broke into the secondary and cut back against the grain as he carried the ball 61 yards to the Tiger 16. Four plays later Dorman, followed a great block by Jones on the linebacker, took the ball around the right side and strolled into the end zone bringing the score to 14-7.

Jacksboro moved the ball well on the ground again on their next possession, moving the ball to the Callisburg 27 with a first down behind the strong running of Weldon. At this point the Wildcat defense stiffened holding the Tigers on four consecutive plays behind strong defensive plays by Scott Fuqua and Seth Wolfe, giving the Wildcats the ball at the 24.

Callisburg needed just 6 plays to march down for their next score. On the first play, Dorman hit Jones in the left flat on a screen pass and Jones followed his blockers to midfield. On the next play Jones took a handoff to the left and rumbled another 30 yards to the 20. Dorman then went right on a pass/run option and kept to the 4. Three plays later fullback Seth Wolfe took the ball up the middle and dove into the end zone for the touchdown.

On the Tigers next possession Callisburg forced another punt. Bartley's fair catch gave the Wildcats the ball at their own 16-yard line. On the first play, Dorman faked to Jones, kept around the left side, broke back across the secondary, and raced 84 yards to pay dirt giving the Wildcats a 26-7 lead at the half.

The Wildcats continued to roll at the beginning of the second half. After forcing a Jacksboro punt on their first possession, Callisburg took over on their own 31 and needed just two plays to find the end zone again. On the first play Jones took a handoff heading left but when a defender grabbed his jersey behind the line of scrimmage and spun him around, he reversed field, picking up blocks around the right side, and rumbled for 22 yards before he was knocked out-of-bounds at the Tiger 47. On the following play Dorman hit Bartley on a slant and Bartley showed great open field running as he weaved through the secondary to find the end zone.

Callisburg found the end zone twice more. The first score was on a drive highlighted by a 40-yard scramble by Dorman and a 23-yard scoring run by Jones. The second, in the fourth quarter, on a one play drive when Dorman hit Bartley over the middle for a 32-yard touchdown.

Jacksboro found the end zone twice in the fourth quarter on a 4-yard run by Weldon and then with 1:56 remaining on a 17-yard pass from Weldon to Taylor Spear.

Jacksboro finishes their season with a 5-6 record. Next week Callisburg (9-2) will face the Melissa Cardinals in round two. The game will be at Little Elm Stadium on Saturday at 7:30 p.m.