Hayes scored two touchdowns and had a key fumble recovery as the Troy Trojans held off Jarrell 42-35 at Trojan Field on Friday night in a District 25-2A opener.
“Last year they beat us and kept us out of playoffs,” Hayes said. “I wanted revenge on them. No way to explain it. I was just ready.”
But Hayes and the Trojans (3-1) had a fight on their hands as the Cougars (1-3) also were fired up.
The Cougars, which had only thrown for 155 yards on the year, opened the game with a huge strike down the left side as quarterback Chris Trevino hit Daniel Tucker for an 88-yard touchdown reception.
“We thought that first play of the game would be a touchdown when we drew it up Monday,” Jarrell coach Randy Franklin said. “Tucker is really good, and Trevino can throw the football well.”
But the Cougars found trouble after that, losing three of six fumbles and committing 17 penalties for 124 yards.
The Cougars first lost fumble gave the Trojans the ball at the Cougar 17-yard line, and four plays later Troy tied the game at 7.
Jarrell would take a 10-7 lead early in the second off a 34-yard field goal from Emmanuel Villafranco, but lost the lead for good on the ensuing kickoff when Hayes found paydirt cutting from the left side of the field to the right.
“I have to thank my blockers for that one,” he said. “I just saw a small crease, cut it up and saw daylight.”
And after Jarrell lost it’s second fumble two plays into its next possession, Troy went up 21-10 when Jeremy Conrad found Hayes in the end zone on a halfback pass.
“Turnovers hurt us in the first half,” Franklin added. “We turn it over twice, and give up a kick return for a touchdown. I’m not sure we’ve given up a kick return since I’ve been here. But things like that happen.”
Jarrell came to life early in the second half, as Trevino opened their first possession with a 66-yard pass to Kyle Williams, cutting the lead to 21-17.
After Troy got the score back, Williams answered Hayes feat with an 87-yard return, and with the two-point conversion, cut the lead to 28-25.
“Both teams had some big plays,” Troy coach Grady Rowe said. “They hurt us with some big passing plays.”
But despite an impressive 264-yard passing attack, the Cougars hurt themselves with the fumbles -the final being the most important.
Down 35-28 in the fourth, The Cougars held the Trojans deep in their own territory and forced a punt. But a slight indecision caused the punt to be muffed, and Hayes was there for the recovery, giving the Trojans a first down at midfield.
“I just kept swimming, trying to juke free,” Hayes said. “Finally I got inside and they gave up (trying to block me). I saw the muff and just dove.”
Troy scored four plays later.
After Jarrell cut the final margin to 42-35 with nine seconds left, Hayes was there to recover the onside attempt and seal the game.
“There’s not much to say when you win this ugly,” Rowe said. “But we are 1-0 and that’s what’s important.”
The Trojans will be at Rogers on Friday, while Jarrell hosts Salado.
“We have a tough game against Salado to get ready for,” Franklin said. “No doubt they are the best team in this district. But we aren’t out of this thing yet and with Salado being so close, it’s a rivalry. It won’t be hard for them to get up for that, and it won’t be hard for us to get up for them. We still have five more games after that, and we aren’t out of this thing yet.”
And as for Hayes, who was one of three football players nominated for king, he laughed off being snubbed as king.
“They were saying (in the locker room), that’s all I needed to cap off the night,” he joked. “But I’m not too upset. (Homecoming king Adam Roessler) is one of my best friends, so I’m glad he won it.”
But without a doubt, he’s happier his Trojans won, as well.
mhood@temple-telegram.com
