J-Hawks relish first playoff win since 1992

MOUNT VERNON — They were electric. They were explosive. And the Jefferson J-Hawks are playoff winners for the first time in more than two decades.

Jefferson erupted for 49 second-half points and sprinted past Dubuque Senior, 61-43, in a Class 4A first-round playoff football game Wednesday night at Ash Park.

'We came in here four years ago, and we wanted to change the history, the tradition here at Jefferson,' said quarterback Jared Eivins. 'We've done that, but there's still more out there to accomplish.'

The victory was Jefferson's first in the postseason since 1992, when the J-Hawks reached the 4A semifinals. Jefferson (7-3) advances to Monday's second round against an opponent to be determined.

'This is not the end for us,' said J-Hawks Coach Brian Webb. 'We got this one, now we want to get the next one.'

The J-Hawks spotted Senior (4-6) a 14-0 lead, and it was 21-6 late in the first half. But Eivins scored on a 1-yard run with 29 seconds left in the half, and that was a mere precursor to what was to come.

Valentino Green scored three touchdowns after intermission — a 5-yard run, a 31-yard pass from Eivins and a 55-yard run — as the J-Hawks went a little bonkers offensively.

'Any time 34 (Manny Olutunde) gets the ball, or anytime 28 (Green) gets the ball, good things are going to happen,' Webb said.

Green finished with a double-triple, rushing for 103 yards and catching three balls for 121 yards. He also picked off a pass.

'We knew we had to win this year,' Green said. 'This was a great win for our community.'

Despite the J-Hawks' runner-up district finish, their 'home' game was played 20 miles away from their home field. Instead of celebrating their first win of the current players' lifetimes at Kingston Stadium, they did so with their fans among the hedges at Ash Park.

'A lot of people weren't happy about it, but wherever we played, we had to fight hard,' Green said.

Jefferson trailed, 35-33, heading to the fourth quarter, then scored four touchdowns in a five-minute stretch to put it away.

Eivins scored the go-ahead touchdown on a 2-yard run, then, after Green's interception, added a 24-yarder shortly thereafter to make it 47-35.

The J-Hawks forced a punt, then Green got loose for the clinching 55-yarder. Devonte Taylor's 30-yard interception return extended the margin to 61-35.

Eivins rushed for 83 yards and passed for 142 (on 5-of-9 passing). Jefferson finished with 454 yards, compared to 334 for the Rams.

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