PREPS: Under the Lights

Tonight was the night. The madness has begun and there is no looking back. Things will only get crazier next weekend with the first Georgia game. For now though, it was just one half of football back under the lights. I shot an old rivalry game between the Jefferson Dragons and the Commerce Tigers. The two teams have played every year since 1947 with Commerce leading 39-17-5, but the Tigers have lost the last two years. Jefferson came away with an 11-1 record last season and Commerce with a 5-6. This year Commerce was considered the underdog yet again.
The game started off very exciting as Commerce's Deon Brock recovered a fumble by his own team and ran it all the way down field for a touchdown. The sidelines irrupted and several players stormed the field. It was exciting for them, but mostly annoying for me because they blocked my jube shots! The hope for an upset by the Tigers quickly faded as the Dragons came back to score 2 touchdowns and a field goal to wrap up the first half with a 16-7 score. I left at half-time to drive the 30 minutes back to the paper and edit my take. The Dragons won as expected, 30-13.


The Jefferson Dragons walk off the field before the start of their match-up with rivals the Commerce Tigers Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson fans cheer at the start of the Dragons' match-up with the Commerce Tigers Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


The Commerce Tigers take the field Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Commerce's Deon Brock breaks runs a recovered fumble in for a touchdown in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Deon Brock points to the stands after running a fumble in for a touchdown in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson QB Darius Minor jumps out of a tackle by Commerce's Tyler Adams in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson's Lucas Redd breaks away from Commerce's Jacob Vaughn in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Commerce's Deon Brock faces off with Jefferson's Lucas Redd in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson wide receiver Tyler Porter hauls in a Darius Minor pass for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson's Tyler Porter is greeted by teammate Jessie Damons after scoring a touchdown early in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


The ball gets loose during a Jefferson extra point attempt early in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson's Hoytes Damons cruises into the endzone for a touchdown late in the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson's Lucas Redd nearly evades a tackle by Commerce's Casey Drinkard during the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Commerce's Deon Brock is brought down by Jefferson's Jesse Damons in the 1st quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.


Jefferson offensive lineman Sam Loggins celebrates a fumble recovery in front of Commerce's Deon Brock during the 2nd quarter Friday, Aug. 28, 2009, at Memorial Stadium in Jefferson.