Jefferson defense controls Colonels in 33-14 win

ABOVE: Jefferson High School’s Evan Tewell (3) and Nolan Meehleib (34) corral Jaden Ashby of James Wood High School on Friday night. LEFT: Jefferson High School’s Homecoming Court walks out between the Junior ROTC cadets, during Friday night’s winning homecoming game. David Pennock
SHENANDOAH JUNCTION — As the hundreds of fans filtered out of the stands at Jefferson High School, none of them could be called dreamers if their thoughts were two weeks away when the undefeated Cougars would play undefeated Martinsburg in one of the state’s most important high school football games of the 2021 season.
The Cougars had just given visiting James Wood (Winchester) a game-changing look at their overall defense. The Colonels, now 4-2 overall, had their offense intercepted four times, had ceded a two-point safety, seen quarterback Jared Neal often just inches away from another sack, lost possession on downs once, had a field goal attempt blocked and were blanked for the first three quarters in the 33-14 Jefferson victory.
With a 7-0 record, Jefferson has an open date this week before traveling to nearby Martinsburg on Oct. 22 to play the stylish Bulldogs in a game featuring unbeaten teams.
James Wood was held to its lowest point total of the season.
With the two sacks recorded against quarterback Neal counting for negative yardage, the Colonels had only 225 yards in total offense.

Jefferson High School defensive lineman Jason Sheppard (77) tackles James Wood High School running back Wes Brondos (42) on Friday night. David Pennock
Much of Jefferson’s offense came from the 15 completions meted out by Sammy Roberts. Roberts threw for three scores, 216 yards and had the Cougars moving in the right direction after his nine-yard TD pass to Spencer Powell brought a 7-0 lead in the first period.
The only other points of the first half came when Oren Humphreys booted a 27-yard field goal.
James Wood had been mostly stymied in the half after moving inside the Jefferson five with its first possession. That drive had stalled before the Colonels tried a 22-yard field goal that was blocked — bringing the Cougars an extra measure of adrenalin to add to the juice they already brought with them with a 6-0 record.
James Wood running back Wes Brondes had run 10 times for 10 yards against the stubborn Jefferson first-half defense.
The Cougars added 16 third-quarter points on Roberts 32-yard pass to Isaiah Fritts, a safety when an errant Colonel snap from punt formation sailed into their end zone and then Bryson Fleming plunged in from the two to make it 26-0 before the Colonels could ever score.

Caysen Lanza breaks a tackle on the way to a Jefferson touchdown in Friday night's game. David Pennock
Advantageous field position following its series of interceptions had been a vital part of the win. Even though the Cougars could rush for just 66 yards in all, the field position provided by the defense as well as Roberts passing helped move the Cougars goalward enough times to beat James Wood.
For now, its wait another week before facing high-flying Martinsburg. And the Cougars will carry a high state Class AAA rating into that game on Cobourn Field at David Walker Stadium.
- ABOVE: Jefferson High School’s Evan Tewell (3) and Nolan Meehleib (34) corral Jaden Ashby of James Wood High School on Friday night. LEFT: Jefferson High School’s Homecoming Court walks out between the Junior ROTC cadets, during Friday night’s winning homecoming game. David Pennock
- Jefferson High School defensive lineman Jason Sheppard (77) tackles James Wood High School running back Wes Brondos (42) on Friday night. David Pennock
- Caysen Lanza breaks a tackle on the way to a Jefferson touchdown in Friday night’s game. David Pennock
- Jefferson High School’s Homecoming Court walks out between the Junior ROTC cadets, during Friday night’s winning homecoming game. David Pennock

Jefferson High School's Homecoming Court walks out between the Junior ROTC cadets, during Friday night's winning homecoming game. David Pennock