Jinkerson throws four touchdowns, runs for another in 38-35 loss

FORT WORTH--Senior quarterback Austin Jinkerson threw for four touchdowns and ran for a 22-yard score, but Granbury ran out of time in a game the Pirates should have won Friday night in Fort Worth against Paschal.

The final score read 38-35, and it was a night where the Pirates faced a tough Paschal squad and officials who still seemed to be shaking off the cobwebs of the offseason.

Granbury got tagged for three pass interference penalties (two on the same drive) that kept Paschal moving down the field. That might sound like your standard “homer” complaint but misplacing the ball following a quarter change, and mismanagement of the clock on several occasions didn’t play in the Pirates’ favor.

On one occasion, the game was stalled for two minutes to get eight seconds back on the board. It would be fair to point out COVID has played a role in sub-varsity officials and chain gangs members moving up quicker than planned.

“We did well with our quick game, and we saw some things that we liked out there,” Zschiesche said. “We protected Austin well and put the ball where we wanted.” 

The Pirates played from behind all night, and each time it looked like Paschal would run away with the game, Granbury would battle back.

It was a 14-14 contest after the first half as Jinkerson connected with Crash Davis on a seven-yard scoring pass (set up by a Braydon Olthoff fumble recovery) and a 50-yard bomb to Gus Hamlin. Drew Henderson was good on both extra-point kicks and made four on the evening.

MAN ON A MISSION

Jinkerson had the kind of night any quarterback could hang his hat on with his next scoring pass finding Hamlin for his longest heave of the evening on a 70-yard touchdown.

The field general then found his way around the left side of defense on a 22-yard scoring run before showing the Pirates’ have a second deep threat in Dereck Lacy, who hauled in a 52-yard bomb for his first varsity touchdown on offense.

While Paschal did pick off two passes, Jinkerson’s numbers were stunning as he completed 20-24 for 340 yards while adding more than 100 yards on the ground.

MADDEN FOOTBALL

Offensive coordinator Matt Holly kept Paschal on its heels with his play-calling, and his wide receivers responded with big nights. Possession receiver Crash Davis hauled in eight receptions for 55 yards and made an acrobatic catch on his touchdown.

Hamlin’s concentration was the reason he ended up with more than half of Jinkerson’s passing yards as he pulled down six catches for 180 yards. He kept his eyes firmly fixed on the ball as he juggled his first score three times before gathering it in at full speed.

Lacy’s reception was a breakthrough moment for the Pirates offense because the defensive back has added receiver to his duties. It was by far his longest catch against competition, and he was far enough in front of the defender to slow down and adjust himself to make the reception.

SOME CLEAN UP NEEDED

Watching the film from this game couldn’t have been easy because the Pirates will see it was a game they could have won.

“It’s disappointing when you spend a lot of time on anything, and you expect results,” Zschiesche said. “It’s frustrating when the guys in the stripes admit they were wrong, but you just have to move on.”

There were some pivotal no-calls, including leading with the helmet by a defender that rocked sophomore running back Jadon Rogers, frustrated Granbury fans. Even from the highest reaches of Farrington Field, the illegal hit was blatant and uncalled.

“There were some things that seemed to tilt stuff in the other direction, but we still had a chance to win. We didn’t get it done,”

UP NEXT

Waco University’s Trojans come to visit Pirate Stadium, and it will be the first of three straight home 7 p.m. kickoffs for the Pirates. The Trojans come in at 0-1 after being swamped by College Station A&M Consolidated 68-7.

Russell@hcnews.com | 817-573-7066 Ext. 231