Stephens’ five touchdowns, defensive stands lift Sheridan past Jonesboro
Sheridan 49, Jonesboro 21
JONESBORO — Zay Stephens scored five touchdowns, and Sheridan stopped four first-half fourth-down attempts to defeat Jonesboro 49-21 Friday night at Centennial Bank Stadium.
Hunter Socia caught two touchdown passes from Easton Barksdale, including a fourth-and-one throw on the final play before halftime. Barksdale finished with three touchdown passes. Sheridan turned an early 8-7 advantage into a 49-7 lead, improving to 5-0 overall and 2-0 in 6A-East play.
The Yellow Jackets arrived after a bus breakdown delayed their trip. With two regular offensive linemen unavailable, Logan Brand started at guard and Gavin Jones at right tackle.
Sheridan needed three plays to score on its opening possession. After a Stephens run and a Wylie DePriest reception, Barksdale faked a pitch right and threw a screen left to Stephens. Bradley Sturdivant blocked downfield as Stephens reached the end zone. Walker Shields caught the two-point pass.
Jonesboro answered with its own three-play touchdown drive. Kameron Davis caught a deep scoring pass, and the extra point cut the margin to 8-7 with 10:35 remaining in the first quarter.
The teams then exchanged fourth-down stops. Sheridan’s next possession included Socia’s third-and-15 reception into Jonesboro territory and Stephens’ fourth-and-three rushing conversion near the goal line. Barksdale finished with a touchdown pass to Socia, and Shields’ second two-point catch made it 16-7.
Dylan Smith’s tunnel-screen reception helped set up Sheridan’s next touchdown. Stephens carried from the 13 to the 2, then scored on a direct snap early in the second quarter for a 22-7 advantage.
Jonesboro responded with first-down runs by Kden Hawkins and another Davis reception inside the 5. Ross Stevens ended the threat on fourth-and-goal from the 4, tackling a receiver for a loss that gave Sheridan possession at its own 11.
Barksdale connected with Smith along the sideline to move from Jonesboro’s 39 to the 6. Stephens scored on the next play, and Enzo Miranda’s kick made it 29-7 with 5:22 remaining.
After Sheridan’s fourth fourth-down stop, Stephens broke a 64-yard touchdown run. Ross Stevens recovered the ensuing onside kick, but Jonesboro’s defense held to regain possession.
Reid Stevens then stopped a screen for a loss and intercepted a deep pass. Barksdale converted that takeaway into Socia’s second touchdown, releasing the fourth-down throw under pressure as the half expired. The extra point produced a 42-7 halftime lead.
Jonesboro opened the third quarter with rushing conversions by Tevin Oliver and Percy Williams. Ross Stevens intercepted a subsequent pass and lateraled to Reid on the return. Stephens finished Sheridan’s ensuing possession with a 33-yard direct-snap touchdown run, his fourth rushing score.
Jonesboro supplied both fourth-quarter touchdowns. Angel Feliz broke a 79-yard touchdown run, and the Hurricane later blocked a quick punt and recovered it for a touchdown. Alex Glomski’s extra point completed the scoring.
Mason Morris found Maddox Young for a first down on Sheridan’s final possession. Brand added a short run before the clock expired, closing a second half played under running-clock rules.
Scoring Summary
1st Quarter
Sheridan – Zay Stephens touchdown reception on a screen pass from Easton Barksdale (Walker Shields two-point reception), Sheridan 8, Jonesboro 0.
Jonesboro – Kameron Davis touchdown reception (kick good), Sheridan 8, Jonesboro 7. 10:35.
Sheridan – Hunter Socia touchdown pass from Barksdale (Shields two-point reception), Sheridan 16, Jonesboro 7.3:43.
2nd Quarter
Sheridan – Zay Stephens two-yard touchdown run on a direct snap (kick unsuccessful), Sheridan 22, Jonesboro 7.
Sheridan – Zay Stephens six-yard touchdown run (Enzo Miranda kick), Sheridan 29, Jonesboro 7. 5:22.
Sheridan – Zay Stephens 64-yard touchdown run (two-point pass incomplete), Sheridan 35, Jonesboro 7. 3:46.
Sheridan – Hunter Socia touchdown pass from Barksdale on fourth-and-one (kick good), Sheridan 42, Jonesboro 7.0:00.
3rd Quarter
Sheridan – Zay Stephens 33-yard touchdown run on a direct snap (Miranda kick), Sheridan 49, Jonesboro 7.
4th Quarter
Jonesboro – Angel Feliz 79-yard touchdown run (kick good), Sheridan 49, Jonesboro 14.
Jonesboro – Blocked punt recovered for a touchdown (Alex Glomski kick), Sheridan 49, Jonesboro 21.
Players Who Stood Out
Zay Stephens, Sheridan, running back — Scored five touchdowns: four rushing and one receiving. His rushing touchdowns covered two, six, 64 and 33 yards. Converted fourth-and-three near the goal line during Sheridan’s second touchdown drive and third-and-10 on another scoring possession.
Hunter Socia, Sheridan, receiver — Caught two touchdown passes, including the fourth-and-one throw as the first half expired. Added a third-and-15 reception into Jonesboro territory during the drive that produced his first touchdown.
Ross Stevens, Sheridan, safety — Made a fourth-and-goal tackle for loss, recovered an onside kick and intercepted a third-quarter pass. His fourth-down stop gave Sheridan possession at its own 11; his interception ended Jonesboro’s opening possession of the second half.
Ethan Barksdale, Sheridan, quarterback — Threw three touchdown passes, connecting twice with Hunter Socia and once with Zay Stephens. Found Stephens on a screen for Sheridan’s opening touchdown and delivered Socia’s second scoring catch under pressure on fourth-and-one as the first half expired.
Kameron Davis, Jonesboro, receiver — Caught the opening touchdown pass that helped bring Jonesboro within 8-7. Added a second-quarter reception inside Sheridan’s 5 during a drive that reached first-and-goal at the 2.
Angel Feliz, Jonesboro, running back — Scored on a 79-yard fourth-quarter run, cutting back across the defense before reaching the end zone. His touchdown supplied Jonesboro’s first points of the second half.