Barksdale throws five touchdown passes as Sheridan beats Warren 51–13
Barksdale throws five touchdown passes as Sheridan beats Warren 51–13
Sheridan quarterback Easton Barksdale threw five touchdown passes, and the Yellow Jackets returned two interceptions for touchdowns in a 51–13 victory over Warren on Friday at Lumberjack Stadium. Lightning ended the game with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter.
The broadcast credited Barksdale with 345 passing yards. He threw two touchdown passes to Dylan Smith and one apiece to Walker Shields, Zay Stephens and Hunter Socia. Sheridan scored 25 points in the first quarter and led 51–6 at halftime.
Stephens opened the scoring with a touchdown run at 9:49 of the first quarter. Shields intercepted a Jackson Denton pass on Warren’s opening possession, then caught a 20-yard touchdown pass from Barksdale on Sheridan’s next drive. Shields also converted fourth-and-three with a reception during that possession.
Rashod Litzsey returned an interception for Sheridan’s third touchdown. Smith followed with a touchdown reception on a corner route, then caught a 48-yard scoring pass early in the second quarter after Stephens intercepted another Warren pass.
Ross Stevens broke up a third-and-15 pass, forcing a Warren punt with Sheridan leading by 31. Warren scored when Jaxstyn Ingram recovered a fumbled snap in the end zone with 8:36 left in the half. The Lumberjacks had pinned Sheridan at its 1-yard line with a punt on the previous play.
Stephens answered with an 80-yard touchdown reception on Sheridan’s first play after the kickoff. He took the direct snap, transferred the ball to Barksdale and caught the return pass before running down the sideline.
Socia added a touchdown reception with 3:30 left before halftime. Ross Stevens returned another interception for a touchdown, and Aaron Eckert supplied Sheridan’s fifth interception before halftime.
JaKoby Avery scored Warren’s second touchdown on its opening possession of the third quarter. His run followed a Ty Hembree reception and a late-hit penalty against Sheridan.
Scoring summary
| Quarter | Scoring play | Score, Sheridan–Warren |
|---|---|---|
| First | Sheridan — Zay Stephens touchdown run; kick failed. | 6–0 |
| First | Sheridan — Walker Shields 20-yard pass from Easton Barksdale; kick failed. | 12–0 |
| First | Sheridan — Rashod Litzsey interception return for a touchdown; Cam Martin kick. | 19–0 |
| First | Sheridan — Dylan Smith touchdown pass from Barksdale; conversion failed. | 25–0 |
| Second | Sheridan — Smith 48-yard pass from Barksdale; kick failed. | 31–0 |
| Second | Warren — Jaxstyn Ingram recovered a fumble in the end zone; kick failed. | 31–6 |
| Second | Sheridan — Stephens 80-yard pass from Barksdale; Martin kick. | 38–6 |
| Second | Sheridan — Hunter Socia touchdown pass from Barksdale; Martin kick. | 45–6 |
| Second | Sheridan — Ross Stevens interception return for a touchdown; kick blocked. | 51–6 |
| Third | Warren — JaKoby Avery touchdown run; kick good. | 51–13 |
Game called because of lightning with 7:17 remaining in the third quarter.
Players who stood out
- Easton Barksdale, Sheridan: Five touchdown passes to four receivers and 345 passing yards, according to the broadcast.
- Zay Stephens, Sheridan: Scored a rushing touchdown and an 80-yard receiving touchdown. Also intercepted a first-quarter pass that Sheridan converted into a touchdown.
- Dylan Smith, Sheridan: Two touchdown receptions, including a 48-yard score early in the second quarter.
- Walker Shields, Sheridan: Caught a 20-yard touchdown, intercepted a pass and converted fourth-and-three with a reception.
- Rashod Litzsey and Ross Stevens, Sheridan: Each returned an interception for a touchdown. Stevens also broke up a third-and-15 pass that forced a punt.
- Hunter Socia, Sheridan: Caught a touchdown pass with 3:30 remaining in the second quarter.
- Jaxstyn Ingram, Warren: Recovered a fumbled snap in the end zone for Warren’s first touchdown.
- JaKoby Avery, Warren: Scored a rushing touchdown on Warren’s opening possession of the third quarter.