Longhorns rip Luther in opener

September 4, 2024 |

By John Martin
Staff Writer

The Jones Longhorns sent longtime rival Luther back up Hogback Road Thursday with a 51-6 victory at Tim Wallace Field then quickly turned their attention to an early season showdown with Eastern Oklahoma power Kiefer.

The Trojans, who also won their Zero Week opener with a 30-12 romp past Morris, posted a 13-1 record a year ago and advanced all the way to the State 2A playoffs semifinals before falling to Millwood, 34-29.

In an unbelievable turn of events, Kiefer scored a touchdown and PAT with 12 seconds left on the clock in their semifinals matchup with Millwood last fall to take a 29-28 lead and send the Trojan faithful into a frenzy.

But the Trojan fans don’t know Millwood like we do and were stunned when Jarod Nicholson took the kickoff and raced 75 yards for the winning touchdown as time expired with the Falcons headed to the finals.

Acyn Hansen fights off a Luther tackle in the season opener. (PHOTO BY RYAN HORTON)

The Longhorns were on the other side of the bracket, losing a 35-34 heartbreaker to eventual state champion Washington.

Longhorn fans will have to get an early start since Kiefer is located very close to the Arkansas state line.

Acyn Hansen had no trouble at all, as expected, in his role at the helm of the explosive Jones offense. The junior sharpshooter completed 10 of 14 passes for 172 yards and four touchdowns and added another 87 yards in 10 carries to also top the rushing game.

Kash Marinko completed both his passing attempts for 29 yards in relief of Hansen and had a fumble recovery on defense.
No surprise that Hansen completed five passes to Creighton Jones for 88 yards and three touchdowns as the bewildered Lions’ defense simply couldn’t account for Hansen’s stable of talented receivers.

Speedy Chase Pitts gathered in four completions and a touchdown and Mason Templeton added a 41-yard beauty for the other passing score. Hunter Purvis and Jake Montgomery had the other two catches.

Senior Chace Pitts makes a catch in the end zone as the sun sets in Jones. (PHOTO BY RYAN HORTON)

On the ground, workhorse Cale Clark toted the pigskin 11 times for 73 yards and junior Coda Harris added 22 yards, which included two touchdowns. Riley Ellefson sparked the offensive effort with four pancake blocks.

On defense, Mason Templeton, the Longhorns Player of the Game, led the way with 8 tackles including two for losses, while Kaleb Chappie and Jesse Harwell also had TFL’s.
Luke Debusk racked up 8 tackles to tie Templeton for the lead and Tres Sturdivan added 6 more. Drew Thomas and Eli Debusk each had 5 and Chappie, Cruse Cranford and Omar Ruiz added 3 each.

Harwell, Hubert Rideaux and Kade Templeton each had a pair and Carlos Hardeman, Jet Biby, Chase Pitts, Derek Templeton and Jose Rojas joined the hit parade with a tackle each.