I’ve previously said it multiple times that the key to victory for Jacksonville football is generating early momentum with first-possession touchdowns and turnovers.
Yes, it’s cliche, but that was the Cardinals’ recipe for success last year, and the trend is what has carried Jacksonville to lopsided wins against East Duplin and New Bern in their last two outings.
The Cardinals (4-1, 1-0) will certainly need to get off to a strong offensive start and either gain an extra possession via an interception or fumble recovery if they are to top J.H. Rose (6-0, 1-0) in Friday’s Big Carolina 6-A/7-A Conference clash.
But there is an underlying X-Factor that could play a role in a potential Jacksonville victory. Well, several of them … in the form of under-the-radar players.
It’s no secret that running back Amari Pearson and wide receiver SaRonn “Juice” Thompson are two seniors who can score on any play, and senior Sammie “Squirrel” Rogers IV and junior Domonic “DJ” Williams are two of the area’s best defensive backs.
These players will certainly continue handling their business on Friday and throughout the season.
But if Jacksonville is to win the conference title again and be the dangerous team most of us think they can in the playoffs, those X-Factor players will need to perform well.
On offense, I am talking about quarterbacks, senior Josiah Benton and junior Isaiah Hillary, senior running back Montez Jimenez and senior receiver Mikhail White.
On defense, I am referring to senior linemen Damari June and Micah Miller and junior linebacker Kenneth Jones.
Neither Benton and Hillary have stuffed the stat sheet as they split time calling signals, but each one is important in their own way.
If the Cardinals need a big pass play, Hillary is there, and if they need another ball carrier in their run-pass option offense, Benton will make the play. Jimenez and White are two players opponents can’t sleep on if they focus on Pearson and Thompson, and I can see the two players coming up huge against J.H. Rose.
On defense, June has been a force with 12 tackles for loss and four sacks while Miller has four sacks and seven tackles for loss. Jones has six sacks and 10 tackles for loss.
These numbers indicate that Jacksonville’s defense has penetrated offensive lines, and the unit will need to do that if they are to make things uncomfortable for J.H. Rose quarterback Chase Davis.
Chris Miller can be contacted via email at cmiller@jdnews.com. Follow him on X @jdnsports.