It could be called a shootout, at least in the first half. Smithfield (3-0, 2-0) outlasted Jamestown (1-2, 1-1), 28-18, in a Bay Rivers district football game Friday night at Wanner Stadium.
It didn’t take long for the fireworks to begin. Visiting Smithfield took the opening kickoff and moved to a score with 8:49 left on the first quarter clock. After early success on the ground, the Packers hit pay dirt when Jermaal Wells passed to Marcel Curry for 29 yards and a score.
Jamestown answered with 1:31 left in the period, as junior quarterback Tyler Doane found Mike Mason with a 10-yard TD pass. The Eagles missed on the PAT try.
With 10:59 in the half, Jamestown’s Doane kept the ball and scored on a twisting, 20-yard scamper. The Eagles led, 12-7, and again missed the kick on the PAT attempt.
Smithfield came right back with a 90 yard kickoff return by Marquis Childress to regain lead at 14-12.
With :03 left in the first half, Wells ran one yard for a Smithfield touchdown. The PAT attempt was blocked and the Packers were up, 20-12 at the break. The score was set up by 27-yard pass from Wells to Bruce Cypress.
After a first half with no fumbles or interceptions, the teams traded turnovers in the second 24 minutes. The Packers picked off a Jamestown pass and then fumbled on their seven. But the Eagles missed a field goal try. The turnovers continued when Smithfield fumbled again. Doane picked up a first down on a fourth-yard run to keep the drive alive. But another turnover doomed the Eagles when the Packers intercepted a fourth down pass.
Wells faced a third down on his own 11, and heaved a 39 yard pass to James Green to keep possession midway through the fourth. Another fumble gave the Eagles a shot.
The turnover circus continued when Jamestown gave the ball back on an interception.
Smithfield scored on a three yard run by Kyon Croker and then added a two-point conversion.
The odd second half had six turnovers and no punts. The game had 12 plays for negative yardage.
Late in the fourth period, the Eagles moved quickly and scored on a 27 yard pass from Doane to Mason, pulling within 28-18 with 1:40 left. But the home club could get no closer.
Smithfield’s Wells had 17 carries for 38 yards. Jamestown’s Daivon Turner had eight carries for 36 yards.
The Eagles managed only 52 yards rushing as a team for the game.
Jamestown coach Lee Williams told his team, “We will get better.” He said, “There were many positives and some negatives tonight. We need to protect the quarterback better. We have to get ready to play York.”
Smithfield 28 Jamestown 18
SF 7 13 0 8 28
JT 6 6 0 6 18
First quarter
SF-Curry 29 pass from Wells (Anderson kick)
JT-Mason 10 pass from Doane (kick failed)
Second quarter
JT-Doan 20 run (kick failed)
SF- Childress 90 kickoff return (Anderson kick)
SF-Wells one run (kick blocked)
Fourth quarter
SF-Croker 3 run (Cypress run)
JT-Mason 27 pass from Doane (run failed)
