JACKSONVILLE — All Mason Ball needed was 21 yards to reach 1,000 for the season. He reached another plateau in the process.
The junior broke a 50-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage and scored on a 7-yard run also in the first quarter on his way to a 201-yard effort, leading Jacksonville to a 49-8 win over White Hall on Friday night. The Titans (3-6, 1-5 in 5A-Central) ended a 16-game conference losing streak with the win.
“It’s big for the program,” said first-year Titans Coach Reggie Swinton. “These kids have been working so hard, and we’ve had some bad luck over the last five weeks, but these kids have worked hard. They haven’t quit on us. We’re so proud of these kids. We know where Jacksonville has been, but where we’re going is special.”
Ball rushed for three touchdowns on 18 carries. He ended the first half with 12 carries for 160 yards, as Jacksonville built a 34-0 halftime lead. His 1-yard plunge on the Titans’ first offensive series of the third quarter set a running clock in motion for the rest of the game.
“Mason has a unique ability to find a hole,” Swinton said. “He’s powerful. He’s a special kind of back that everyone wants. He can catch the ball, he has 4.3 speed, so he’s a good player.”
The Bulldogs (1-8, 1-5) struggled to establish the same fast start it did last Friday at home against conference contender Maumelle. They mishandled an onside kick after Ball’s first touchdown, allowing the Titans to set up shop near midfield and score again in two plays. Senior Bryston Belew, who was 4 for 8 for 69 yards, fired a 43-yard completion to classmate Keyshawn Glenn, and sophomore tight end Brett Wynne rushed 6 yards to make it a 13-0 Titans lead.
“I did a poor job,” Bulldogs Coach Daryl Patton said. “All the blame goes on me. I did a poor job getting our kids ready. We weren’t ready offensively, defensively or special teams. In all three phases of the game, Jacksonville outplayed us, out-coached us, and congratulations to them. We’ve got to go back to the drawing board. That was an ugly, ugly ballgame.”
White Hall punted on its first drive, and senior Wyatt Golden (7 for 10, 54 yards) threw an interception to senior Jadaven Jackson on the Bulldogs’ second drive. Jacksonville worked its way to the red zone but turned the ball over on downs after three holding calls.
A kickoff return by Ball was called back for another holding call after Jacksonville scored a safety with 8:05 left before halftime.
Matthew Goldsberry rushed 10 yards for a touchdown and made a 27-yard over-the-shoulder catch from senior Jaceon McKenzie, both in the second quarter. Jacksonville blocked a punt on the opening drive of the third quarter, setting up the series at the White Hall 15 that led to the automatic running clock.
Belew tossed another touchdown pass to Goldsberry (two receptions, 37 yards) to cushion the Titans’ lead to 49-0 at the end of the third quarter.
White Hall ended the shutout bid with help from its younger players. Sophomore Morgan Reece filled in for Golden at quarterback and engineered a 10-play, 56-yard march ending with senior Xavier Wallace’s 13-yard run with 3:15 remaining. Freshman James Earl Jones ran for 20 of his team-high 30 yards on the drive.
“We had some guys come in the fourth quarter, play hard and do what they’re supposed to do,” Patton said. “I was glad to see us score a touchdown, but in the grand scheme of things, that was a total team loss. It was an ugly night to be a Bulldog; I can tell you that.”
White Hall will end its season at home against Pine Bluff on Thursday, as Jacksonville hosts Watson Chapel.