Pearl River goes to 5-0 with win at East Jeff

East Jefferson scored first and last, but not enough, as Pearl River ran its record to 5-0, opening District 9-4A play Friday night at Joe Yenni Stadium in Metairie by spoiling the Warriors homecoming, 29-14.

The loss dropped East Jefferson to 1-4.

James Gillum, playing without the services of backfield mate Will Reed, carried the ball 26 times and gained 231 yards, scored two touchdowns and on a two-point run to lead the Rebel offense, which amassed 315 total yards (250 on the ground).

On the other side of the football, East Jefferson was held to just 160 total yards by a stout Pearl River defense led by defensive lineman T.J. Peterson, Scott Schure and Alonzo Price. Also, linebacker Craig Domingue added another sack to his total.

“I thought both teams played hard tonight, and we were able to get the win in a tough contest,” said Pearl River coach Joe Harris.

The Rebels welcomed back senior Jacob Maxwell, their utility player, who had been out with an illness, and he responded by catching a 37-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Matt Smith while also handling both punting and punt-return duties.

Both teams seemed to have trouble holding onto the ball as both fumbled four times apiece with East Jefferson losing one and Pearl River two.

East Jefferson scored at 1:08 in the opening quarter when Jerald Robins recovered a Maxwell fumble of a punt return, setting up the Warriors at the Pearl River 22-yard line.

First Warriors’ quarterback Jared Lewis picked up 8 yards on a scamper before running back Anthony Holmes skirted around the right side of the field on a 14-yard run for six. Alex Perdomo added the extra-point kick, and the first period ended with the Warriors leading, 7-0.

Pearl River responded with Jeremiah Levy capping off an eight-play, 75-yard drive with a 3-yard tote to put the Rebels in the scoring column two minutes into the second frame. The drive was propelled by Gillum’s 43-yard gallop down the left sideline to the Warriors’ 25.

The Rebels seized the lead for good following a Warrior fumble recovered by senior linebacker Seth Craddock that put the ball in the offense’s hand at the Warriors’ 20. Gillum carried twice, with the touchdown being from 11 yards out, and he added the icing to the cake with a two-point run. Pearl River led 14-7 at the four-minute mark of the second quarter.

On East Jefferson’s next series punter Chris Bazile booted one off the side of his foot that went straight up and came down just 11 yards down field, giving the Rebels excellent field position at the 37.

It took just one play as Smith found tight end Maxwell streaking down the left sideline and connected with him in stride to increase the lead to 20-7. Smith then tossed the ball to Kendall Twillie for the two-point conversion, and the Rebels led, 22-7.

Lewis was picked off on the Warriors next possession by Pearl River junior linebacker Blake Ladner, giving the pigskin right back to the Rebels with just 10 seconds remaining in the first half.

Smith attempted a pair of passes, hooking up with Maxwell to get to the 8-yard line, good for a 28-yard gain, but time expired with Pearl River taking a 22-7 lead into halftime.

Gillum added his team’s final six of the evening on a 60-yard burst at the midway point of the third stanza, and with Kevin Dancer’s PAT Pearl River increased its lead to 29-7.

East Jefferson closed the gap to 29-14 as Holmes, who led the Warriors with 110 yards on 22 carries, scored his second touchdown with a 10-yard run to end a 10-play, 46-yard drive. Perdomo booted the PAT, and East Jefferson trailed by a couple of scores with nine minutes remaining in the tilt.

The second touchdown came via the same way as the first when Brian Samson recovered a Levy fumble.

Pearl River consumed the final nine minutes of the game with a steady dose of Gillum. The Rebels moved the ball down to the East Jeff 7-yard line before the horn sounded to end the game.

Next week the Rebels return home to host Riverdale, while East Jefferson tangles with Franklinton.