Coach Bryson Oliver was warned that the U.I.L. rarely overturns a player ejection- like what happened to senior Yellowjacket John Michael Eggleston last Friday- despite many clear cellphone videos showing Eggleston's attempt to avoid the confrontation. Oliver kept at it and got a phone call Thursday afternoon...
By Paige Wright
In grand fashion, the Yellowjackets opened their football season on Friday at Findlay Field. The “grand” aspect may have been fashionably late, but in the end the Jackets stung hard to ‘45’ the McDade Bulldogs before the half for a final score of 64-14. McDade is an unincorporated community east of Austin between Elgin and Giddings. “We did not start the game strong by any meaning of the word,” said second-year head coach Bryson Oliver. “We didn't come out as locked-in and as focused as I wanted us to be, and it was reflected in poor tackling and miscues on our first 2 defensive drives.”
Although Menard’s temporary lapse in defense allowed the Bulldogs to bite first, the Jackets promptly responded to match the touchdown, then they raised their opponent 3 additional trips to the endzone in Q1. Oliver explained the offensive blitz was a curated attack, one crafted to offer multiple options on that side of the ball. “The biggest focus this year for us is being more versatile offensively, mainly in our passing and rushing attacks, where last year we were too heavy on the run side,” he said. Friday’s tendencies showed movement in a positive direction getting the ball in the air— the Jackets went 7/8 on passing, with 156 yards— more than any game last season.
Junior Logan Powell and sophomore Jayden Payton led Friday’s passing charge as Oliver’s pair of go-to passers. The Jackets kept the McDade defense guessing, recording 18 rushing attempts for 201 yards.
In the backfield, the power and physicality of senior fullback Wyatt Terrell (3 TDs) combined with the "make-you-miss" speed of running back Payton (4 TDs) hints at the formation of a two headed monster of sorts. The duo tallied 7 rushing touchdowns between the two of them. Oliver notes- “Those two work well with each other back there. [They] love splitting reps and seeing each other have success while they block.”
Powell earned a passing touchdown and senior John Michael Eggleston contributed a receiving touchdown Friday night. Senior Kade Rayburn was 6/8 kicking extra points.
Nearing the end of the second quarter the Jackets were up by 50 points, 64-14. Unless the Bulldogs scored in the remaining 34 seconds, the game was set to be completed at halftime. Six-man regulations include a mercy rule for the high-scoring form of ball. When a team outscores its opponent by at least 45 points at halftime, the game is over. After the half, regardless of time remaining, the game is final once a team is 45 points ahead.
The Yellowjackets were on a final offensive drive when Eggleston collected a pass along the home sideline. The pass was complete, and Eggleston was downed near the 30-yard line. As Eggleston rose following the tackle, Menard fans got a glimpse of the aggressive nature the game had quietly become, reportedly for most of the game. Downed by 2 McDade Bulldogs, a third and then fourth rushed in as words were obviously exchanged between opposing players. Eyewitness accounts and multiple video recordings show Eggleston initially attempted to walk away from the situation. In an instant he was brought back to the ground, mobbed by 4 McDade players.
The situation escalated as officials rushed in, incapable of clearing the melee. Coaches from both sidelines were on the field doing their part to break up the players. Menard swiftly extracted their 2 active participants and began regrouping.
Remaining on the field with several of his players, a McDade coach persisted with shouting and gesturing hostilely to the Menard sideline and referees. There were several additional on-field outbursts from participants in red and black. While the dust continued to settle, officials ejected Eggleston from the game for his part in the altercation. University Scholastic League (UIL) regulations require an ejected player to miss a minimum of the following game's first half. It soon became clear that Eggleston was the lone athlete to be removed from the game, from either side. Tensions were high and rising, prompting the officiating crew to call the game with 34 seconds remaining.
The game concluded and the Yellowjackets moved to the endzone to pay respect to the 2 schools’ marching bands. The Bulldogs retreated to the locker room. Menard fans and players cheered the throughout their performance. The Bulldog Band returned the favor by watching and complimenting the Yellowjacket band on their own notable show.
As the crowd dispersed, dozens of cell-phone videos from many angles were shared, rewatched, compared, and commentated. Later that night Oliver had a chance to review some of those clips. His memory of the events matched the film, which showed Eggleston was not the initial aggressor and was indeed attacked by 4 other players. Armed with that evidence Oliver initiated the process to appeal Eggleston’s mandated first half benching.
Oliver told The News he has been in contact with both the UIL and Texas Association of Sports Officials (TASO) organizations this week in his persistent attempt to get the ejection overturned. The UIL’s Assistant Athletic Director, A.J. Martinez, was able to review video footage of the incident. Oliver said Martinez told him he “saw where the refs missed it, but that his hands were somehow tied.”
Coach Oliver was told these decisions must come from the referee chapter hired. Due to referee shortages in the area, last Friday’s game utilized a San Antonio chapter. Oliver reached out to the chapter’s board of directors and had yet to receive a response as of press time. “The UIL did warn me that these ejections are usually never overturned, and he [Martinez] doubts this one will be an exception to the rules,” lamented Oliver.
On Thursday, August 31, Oliver received a phone call from TASO informing him the ejection had been successfully overturned and Eggleston was officially relieved of the imposed first-half benching penalty this week. The senior is cleared to suit up and be on the field as per usual. (Updated and edited Thursday, August 31, 3:12p.m.)
What’s done is done and the Yellowjackets have moved on to this Friday’s task: taking on the No. 5 ranked Cherokee Indians, who will be in Menard Friday for a 7:30 p.m. kickoff at Findlay Field. “Cherokee will be our toughest pre-district opponent this year, and it's not even close. It could also possibly be the fastest team we will have played in my two years here so far. They have state track meet speed in the backfield, and they run a very aggressive style defense, sending the house.” Said Oliver.
The Yellowjacket offensive line is going to have to be their most disciplined this week, as Cherokee routinely lines up in several different defensive positions. Oliver recognizes his backfield will have to be able to handle pressure and make split second decisions.
Defensively, Oliver and the coaching staff are preaching one thing for Friday: tackle. And do it as a team. Oliver knows Menard does not have anyone on the roster that can match their running backs in the open field to bring them down. Fortunately, they do have plenty who can bottle them up. “The other 5 [players] will have to be on point and rally and help with the tackling so we can get their speedsters on the ground.” This would be a huge step forward for Menard football if they can take care of business on Friday night.
The Menard Junior High Junior Jackets and JV teams travel to Garden City today, Thursday, to start their season on the road.
Elsewhere in District 13, Week 1: Veribest 45/Santa Anna 0. Eden 14/ Leakey 66. Robert Lee 46/Rotan 0. Irion County 42/Buena Vista 46.