Mortimer Jordan tailback Justin Mack is tackled by Erwin linebacker Aaron Perkins in the third quarter of Friday’s 28-6 victory by the Eagles. Mack gained just 36 yards on 12 carries, tops for the Blue Devils.

Mortimer Jordan struggled to find its way during most of Friday night’s game with visiting Erwin, but still held out hope with 7:35 left to play, down by just a 14-6 score with the Eagles facing third down and 21 yards to go.

That hope didn’t last much longer.

Erwin quarterback Michael Gilmore found wide receiver Juanne Thomas open on the right sideline. Thomas too k the catch and dashed down the sideline, then stopped an cut a diagonal run for the opposite side.

Thomas sneaked just inside the pylon for the touchdown, pushing the Eagles to a 28-6 victory in non-region play.

The play held up despite the vocal complaints from the Jordan coaching staff that their defensive end, Dennis Robbins, was the victim of a face-mask foul on the play.

Devils coach Greg Watts wouldn’t comment on the record about the no-call. so as not to arouse attention from AHSAA officials. But Watts did acknowledge that the play broke the spirit of his team.

“[Gilmore] threw a beautiful pass,” Watts said. “But at that point it as a 14-6 game, and that play turned it. After that, we shut down. When they scored on that long pass, I thought we gave up. I didn’t like that part of it.”

Erwin (3-2) had run it down Jordan’s throat much of the game, as fullback LaAustin Billups rammed through the middle of the line from the start. He softened up the defense, which allowed Gilmore to go to the passing game..

“They did a great job of hitting us in the mouth. We knew that’s what we were going to get,” Watts said.

Erwin went on a long, nine-minute drive on their first possession, but came up empty when Tyler Fortenbury intercepted Gilmore’s pass in the end zone.

The Eagles first scored on a 1-yard charge up the middle by J’Karys Dunklin with 3:07 left in the first half.

A Gilmore pass to James Jackson on the last play of the first half came up just short, as Jordan’s Rod Washington ran Jackson out just before the goal line.

Erwin switched to the passing game to start the second half, finished off with a 43-yard scoring pass from Gilmore to Levi Billups.

But the Devils then mounted their only sustained offensive drive of the game, which ended when quarterback Orion Recke connected with Logan Motte in the back corner of the end zone with 4:34 left in the third period.

After the backbreaking score by Thomas, Jordan had two more chances to score. The first petered out at the Erwin 28, and the second blew up in their faces when Recke’s pass was intercepted by safety Cedric Poole, who ran it back 75 yards for the Eagles last touchdown.

Jordan (3-2) was held to just 35 yards rushing and 136 yards total offense, with just seven first downs and only one in the first half.

Tailback Justin Mack gained 36 yards on 12 carries.

Recke was 7-for-20 in passing with two interceptions and 101 yards. Motte had three catches for 41 yards and the touchdown.