CORSICANA — The Cleburne Yellow Jackets and the Corsicana Tigers battled for a playoff spot on Friday night at Tiger Stadium, and it was the Tigers who punched their ticket to the postseason with a 29-13 victory.
The loss may have been disappointing for the Cleburne faithful, but the Jackets’ 6-4 campaign this season and 3-4 record in 16-4A represent a stunning turnaround from a team that went 3-7 overall and 0-7 in 16-4A last year.
The significance of what this year’s squad accomplished was not lost on Cleburne head coach Phil Young who said this year was one of the most fun to coach in his career.
“One thing I’ll say about our kids,” Young said. “Is that they did something nobody gave them credit for. They fought their guts out. People found it easy to say they’re not going to be very good and they proved everybody wrong.”
While the playoffs are out of the picture and the 2009 season is over, Young said the real changes are just beginning for Cleburne football.
“These guys brought a whole lot of pride and passion back into this program,” Young said. “It’s just starting. What they started will go on for many years with these younger kids.
“They’ll live with this with a big smile on their faces after the hurt of losing wears off.
“This really was a great season. It was one of the most memorable that I’ve ever been a part of.”
One of the most notable changes between this year’s program and the previous year’s, Young said, was the competitive nature the Jackets showed in every game.
“Even the four losses were close,” Young said. “We didn’t lose a game by more than two touchdowns. Last year, we were getting blasted by 40 points. We were in every game and I hope people realize how close these guys were.”
Corsicana outgained Cleburne for 316 rushing yards on the night with Jonathan Anderson (117 yards on 14 carries) and Cody Evans (157 yards on 22 carries) shouldering the load for Corsicana.
After the Jackets took an early 7-0 lead on their opening drive 16-play, 62-yard drive behind an L.J. Holmes 1-yard touchdown run, the Tigers responded by marching down the field, and quarterback Cameron Cutrer dove in for his first of two 1-yard touchdown runs.
Cody Evans converted the two-point conversion to give the Tigers an 8-7 lead in the second period.
The Jackets’ offense struggled to just 18 yards in the second period and Corsicana took advantage by asserting itself on the ground.
Cutrer capped off a seven-play, 70-yard touchdown drive with another scoring dive from a yard out to give the Tigers a 15-7 halftime advantage.
Corsicana kept the pressure on during its opening drive in the third quarter by driving 74 yards in 12 plays, and Evans scored from a yard out to make it 23-7 after another two-point conversion.
Anderson broke lose for a 35-yard touchdown run later in the quarter to round out the Tigers’ scoring.
When it came down to it, Young said, Corsicana came up with more big plays.
“We did some good things, but we got behind in the second quarter,” Young said. “We couldn’t quite get there.”
Holmes tossed a 9-yard touchdown pass to Brodrick Martin with 7:41 to go in the fourth, but the Tigers were able to run out the clock.
Holmes finished with 73 yards on 14 carries to lead the Jackets while Hicks rushed for 52 yards on six carries.
Taylor Calahan completed 7-of-16 passes for 40 yards.
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