The stage is set for Jacksonville football.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals put themselves in position for an undefeated regular season and the outright Big Carolina 6-A\/7-A Conference title on Friday night with a 41-24 home victory over D.H. Conley.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey know what\u2019s at stake,\u201d Jacksonville coach Beau Williams said. \u201cThey know White Oak is a good team and gets after it, and that we have to be ready.\u201d<\/p>\n
A home win over White Oak next Thursday would give the Cardinals (8-0, 4-0) their first unbeaten regular season since 1982 and mark the first time Jacksonville won all of its conference games since 1990.<\/p>\n
The victory over D.H. Conley (6-3, 3-1) already gives the Cardinals at least a share of the league crown, but they look for more against White Oak (4-5, 0-4) after finishing in a three-way tie for it last year.<\/p>\n
It was Jacksonville’s first league title since 2000.<\/p>\n
\u201cNext week is big,\u201d senior defensive back Jah\u2019quez Robinson said. \u201cIt\u2019s a short week and it\u2019s homecoming so there are a lot of distractions.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senior offensive lineman Anderson Tant feels the Cardinals are up for the challenge of finding motivation against White Oak.<\/p>\n
The Cardinals have won 14 consecutive games over the Vikings, which suffered their fourth straight defeat with a 35-30 loss to South Central on Friday.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s going to be a big game … and it\u2019s always a good game against them,\u201d Tant said. \u201cI\u2019m very excited. I\u2019d like to get coach Beau something like this because he deserves it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams, however, credited his team for taking care of business against D.H. Conley, which entered with a four-game winning streak. D.H. Conley pulled to within 21-17 in the third quarter before Jacksonville scored the game’s final 20 points.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cThe kids kept on stepping up,\u201d Williams said. \u201cWe had a couple of injuries, but the next guy came in and made plays to beat a good Conley team that\u2019s coached really well and has good athletes.\u201d<\/p>\n
But Jacksonville has solid athletes, and the Cardinals once again showed that.<\/p>\n
Junior Amari Pearson continued his strong play by rushing for 237 yards and five touchdowns on just 13 carries. He scored on runs of 1, 37, 60, 14 and 1 yards while running behind the blocking of Tant and seniors Isaiah Hernandez, Koby Maready, Rashad Jenkins and William Kellum.<\/p>\n
Pearson\u2019s 60-yard score extended Jacksonville\u2019s lead to 21-10 in the second quarter.<\/p>\n
Junior SaRonn Thompson had five receptions for 109 and a touchdown while senior Anthony Washington completed eight of 14 passes for 140 yards.<\/p>\n
Washington found Thompson for a 21-yard score with 21 seconds left in the second to extend Jacksonville\u2019s lead to 27-17.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe just need to score to help our defense,\u201d Washington said. \u201cThey always help us out, so we needed to help them out.\u201d<\/p>\n
Jacksonville\u2019s special teams also played a key role early.<\/p>\n
After Pearson\u2019s 1-yard score gave the Cardinals a 7-0 lead in the first quarter, senior Dylan Casebolt recovered the ensuing kickoff at the Vikings\u2019 37-yard line. One play later, Pearson darted 37 yards to make it 14-0.<\/p>\n
Robinson also made a big play in the third with the Cardinals leading 27-17 as he recovered a fumble at Jacksonville 7 following nine-play possession.<\/p>\n
\u201cThey had a long drive, and our defense was holding on,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cOur defense makes sure everybody does their jobs.\u201d<\/p>\n
Senior Linebacker Blake Moses intercepted a deflected pass in the fourth to help seal the win, which was the Cardinals’ fifth victory against a team with a winning record.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe knew coming into week that this one of the biggest games of the season,\u201d Robinson said. \u201cWe want to go 1-0 every week.\u201d<\/p>\n
And the Cardinals keep doing that.<\/p>\n
\u201cAll of the coaches keep us level-headed,\u201d Thompson said.<\/p>\n
But that doesn\u2019t mean the Cardinals are not looking forward to their clash against White Oak next week.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe are excited. We will go as hard as we do for every game,\u201d Washington said. \u201cWe know we have to go to work on Monday.\u201d<\/p>\n