Jefferson High School Dragon facts

Region: 8-AA

Last year’s record: 8-4

Last week: Jefferson 35, Commerce 14

Last year’s region record: 3-1, second place in region 8-A

Head Coach: Bill Navas (38-29-1 sixth season; overall 52-45-1)

Offense: Spread

Defense: 4-4

Key Players: DB/WR Tab Martin (Sr., 5-8; 170), RB/DB Zach Crosby (Sr. 5-8 175); OL/DL Sasser Connor (Sr. 6-0, 300); C/LB Patrick Allen (Sr. 6-1, 220); LB Jay Fowler (Sr. 5-10, 180); G/DE Kyle Roberds (Sr. 5-10, 185); RB Virgil Appleby (Sr. 59-180)

The Dragons will be the first of nine straight region 8-AA games for Coach Lee’s team.

Jefferson has been very successful for the past three years in region 8-A.

Last year Coach Bill Navas and his team posted an 8-4 record after advancing to the second round of the state playoffs.

Jefferson will be strong along the offensive line with the likes of Sasser Connor (6-1, 295) and Patrick Allen (6-0, 225).

Major college recruit Zach Crosby is coming off a knee injury and saw limited action against Commerce.

Crosby, a defensive back, could wreak havoc on Tiger receivers.

He will also play wide receiver on offense.

Last year he caught 53 passes for 716 yards.

The Dragons are coming off a huge 35-14 win over arch-rival Commerce.

Jefferson controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage in the contest.

This was the first winning streak against Commerce since defeating them in 1979 and 1980.

Junior quarterback Darius Minor led the Dragons, completing 13 of 14 passes for 128 passing yards in his debut for Jefferson.

He also led the team with 108 rushing yards, despite carrying the ball only twice, with 44 and 62-yard rushing touchdowns.

Senior running back Virgil Appleby took the bulk of the carries for the Dragons with 86 yards on 12 carries.

Lucas Redd scored two touchdowns, one on a 2-yard goal-line run and one on a 21-yard pass from Minor.

Tab Martin led all Jefferson receivers with 53 yards on three receptions.

Redd had 26 yards on two receptions and Zac Crosby caught three receptions for 27 yards with one touchdown, while seeing limited playing time.

Prediction: Coach Navas and his troops will be strong, quick and fast. Experience in big games is a plus for the Dragons, having been in the state play-offs the last eight years.

Dawson must find a way to get its offense going, after gaining less than 100 yards last week.

The Tigers must contain the speedy skill people on the Jefferson team. If they don’t, it could be a long night. This will be a tough contest for Dawson County.

Jefferson 24

Dawson County 17

E-mail Pam Jacobs at sports@dawsonnews.com.