'One more together': Jacksonville's historic season ends in state quarterfinals

Nov. 24—JACKSONVILLE — With two minutes left of what would be Jacksonville's final game, quarterback Jim Ogle gave a glance and three words to receiver Ky'Dric Fisher as the team took the field for one more offensive drive.

"One more together."

As the Golden Eagles' season came to an end against Montgomery Catholic on Friday, Ogle thought back to his time in elementary school with Fisher and others there by his side.

"We've all played together since we were 6 years old," Ogle said after the 44-20 loss. "We did it together. We always said even when we first got in here as freshmen, no matter what happened when our time was up, we were going to do it together, and we did."

In his final high school game, Ogle surpassed more than 3,000 career passing yards as the quarterback went 16-for-29 with 163 yards and two touchdown passes. He'll end his high school career as one of the most prolific passers in Calhoun County history and play college football at Troy.

"I told him I remember when he came through those doors to one of our kids camps that we had," Jacksonville coach Clint Smith said. "He was a little ol' bitty guy, and Coach (Jim) Ogle brought him in, and that's the first time I met him, when he was probably in kindergarten, first grade. He's grown into a man, young man and he's going to have a bright career, no doubt, and I think he's going to do well at Troy and only get better and we're excited about what he's got left in the future."

Along with Ogle, Fisher and the rest of Jacksonville's seniors did all they could on Friday night.

Fisher had a 12-yard touchdown reception, receiver Monte Sinclair led the team with 79 receiving yards and the Golden Eagles' defensive seniors each provided some highlights against a surging Montgomery Catholic offense.

"They're very good leaders. Some of them vocally, some of them just by example," Smith said, "They're just a fun group to be around. They're always cutting up with each other and it's just been a really good locker room mentality all year long and a fun, fun atmosphere and things like that. Fun to be around them and love on them, and this is home for them. We wish them the best of luck as they move forward, but just a great, great senior class and did a lot of things for Jacksonville High School and this community."

The Golden Eagles' playoff run made history for the program, with this year's team being just the second in program history to make it to the third round of the playoffs. Smith said that he credits the chemistry with the team's seniors spending "a lot of days together."

"I'm just super proud of our guys, our seniors and what they've been able to accomplish," Smith said. "One of the greatest seasons in school history. It's only the second time we've been to the quarterfinals and it's just a special season for these guys. A lot of them mean so much, four years you know in the program. Two years in junior high, so really six years total in the program."

What to know

—Montgomery Catholic's Caleb McCreary totaled four touchdowns: two passing and two rushing. His passing touchdowns both came in the first half, with the first to Brody Hudson from 35 yards out and the second to Jo'Tavion Pierce from 11. He also ran for touchdowns of 25 and 3 yards.

—Zae English ran the ball 23 times for 61 yards in the loss, also catching six passes for 57 yards.

—Kicker John Ducar logged two field goals for the Golden Eagles.

—On the Knights' first offensive play of the second half, Joshua Griffin ran 57 yards for a touchdown.

Who said

—Smith on the game: "I'm proud of all of our seniors, proud of all of our team for a great run. Athleticism, quarterback is athletic, just couldn't get the tables turned any and we couldn't get on the other side of it. They just kind of broke it open there in the second half. We fought and did what we could. They've got a good football team there, they're number one for a reason."

—Ogle on his time at Jacksonville: "Not many people have been blessed to be in the situations I've been in, playing eighth grade and getting that experience to go to the state championship game. Coming in and being able to start four years and all those guys that I've played with, I wouldn't trade it for the world. Everybody I've played with made my high school career so much fun. I love every one of those guys."

—Smith on the team's seniors: "They've got a great brotherhood. The spiritual aspect that these young men bring through our FCA and through all that, it's just been huge for our team. They're just a super close group of guys that have played a lot of ball together and we're going to miss them tremendously."

Sports Writer Thomas Ashworth: 256-236-1551. On Twitter: @ThomasAshworth0.