There would be no second-half heroics this year as Spain Park avenged last year’s 27-20 loss by easily handling the Warriors 49-12 at Larry Simmons Field.

Just as we have seen in previous weeks, the Warriors came out strong on defense and forced the Jaguars to punt on their first four possessions, limiting them to just three plays on each drive and no first downs. For the first quarter of the game, the Jaguars were held to zero total yards.

After gaining just eight yards on their its first possession, Thompson’s second possession began at their own 48-yard line. The offense, led by David Bria, used 10 plays to move the ball down the field. On first-and-goal, Monterious Drake took the rock and rumbled in from five yards out for the score. The extra point failed as the ball sailed left of the uprights.

Spain Park finally gained a first down midway through the second quarter. Starting at their own 27-yard line, the Jaguars moved the ball into Thompson territory with a combination of passing and running plays. Just when the Warriors looked to stop the drive, the Jaguars’ Graham Craig hit Daniel Watkins over the middle on a fourth-and-5 play to gain 26 yards and set up a first-and-goal from the 6-yard line. Three plays later, DeRon Smith scored from one yard out. The extra point made it 7-6.

The Jaguars added another touchdown in the second quarter when Smith took the handoff and ran 44 yards for his second score of the night. He would finish the night as the leading rusher for the Jaguars with seven runs for 51 yards and two scores.

At the half, the Warriors trailed by a 14-6 margin, but had outgained their opponents 151 yards to Spain Park’s 136 yards. Coach Brian Maner’s halftime comments were the same things he has been preaching the last two weeks.

“We must play four full quarters and put together a complete game,” Maner said.

Taking the second half kickoff, the Warriors moved the ball 43 yards before stalling on Jaguars’ 32-yard line. A nice punt return and a Thompson penalty would give the Jaguars the ball on their own 44-yard line.

Spain Park put together four straight scoring drives to start the half. The longest drive was 68 yards and took just five plays. Craig connected with Tamar Mickens from 10 yards out for his second passing touchdown of the night and the Jaguars sixth score. Craig finished with 236 passing yards and three touchdowns.

Thompson’s Bria left the game in the third quarter having completed 7-of-18 passes for 99 yards. Sophomore Jaylon Jones finished the night under center.

In the fourth quarter, John Mwaituka scampered 65 yards down the right sideline for the Warriors’ last score of the night.

Thompson finished the night with 312 total yards to Spain Park’s 388 yards. Jimmy Miller, Austin Jones and Deandre Davis each tallied five tackles for the Warriors.

Thompson will travel to Hoover next week to face the Bucs.