Jesse Bethel finally gets his first win – Times Herald Online

The Jesse Bethel High School football team survived St. Patrick-St. Vincent ended a six-game losing streak in a 36-31 shootout on Friday and gave first-year head coach Gary Lee his first win.

After being shut out in two straight games, the Jaguars scored a touchdown in the red zone in all four appearances – an area where they have struggled all season.

“It feels good to get our first win as a head coach, but I’m more happy for the kids because they now believe it’s possible,” Lee said.

Bethel’s success relied on the three-man attack of Melvin Miller III, Cameron Usher and Kylan Mcneal. The three carried the ball 37 times for 173 yards and two touchdowns.

“They definitely ran hard today, so I give them credit,” St. Pat’s head coach Dominguez Dickerson said. “When you know a stampede is coming, you have to step in and stop them. We didn’t do that tonight.”

The trio shined brightest on the final drive from Bethel.

Trailing 31-28 with 9:08 left, the Jaguars mounted a 13-play, 60-yard drive that lost eight minutes after halftime before capping it off with a two-yard touchdown from Miller III.

“The difference in the game was in the trenches,” Dickerson said. “At the end of the game they were able to run the ball, move the chain and kill the clock.”

Trevor Moelk had just 50 seconds to lead a St. Pat’s homecoming miracle, and while the Bruins were pushed into enemy territory by penalties, Moelk was ultimately sacked as time expired.

Despite the disappointing finish, Moelk finished the game with 198 passing yards, three passing touchdowns and two rushing touchdowns.

“He extended some of our plays and found guys who were offside or was able to fight through and gain some yards,” Dickerson said.

Moelk’s first rushing touchdown came on a quarterback sneak after a Bethel fumble brought the Bruins to the one-yard line.

The Jaguars had trouble protecting the ball in the first half. With a decisive fourth possession and goal, it looked as if they had lost the third possession of the half.

The ball was knocked out of Usher’s hands, but instead of Bruin landing on it, it was offensive tackle Darius Patterson who recovered it in the end zone, making the game 12-1.

Moelk went right back to his favorite target, Drew Christensen, for a 27-yard touchdown, but Mcneal immediately responded with a 66-yard touchdown to Myka Broussard on the following play, giving the Jaguars a 20-19 halftime lead.

The back-and-forth continued in the second half as Moelk’s third touchdown pass was answered with an 11-yard rushing touchdown off a reverse by Anthony Young.

Bethel led 28-25 late in the third quarter and appeared to have gotten the break it needed after forcing a Bruins fumble. However, on the very next play, Mcneal threw an interception to Dylan Santos, which set up a two-yard rushing touchdown from Moelke and put the Bruins back in the driver’s seat.

The Jaguars gained possession with 9:08 left and were unstoppable on the ground. Miller III led the charge, weaving through defenders, increasing his rushing total to 66 yards and scoring the go-ahead touchdown.

“They couldn’t fight me,” Miller said. “I knew they didn’t want to attack me, so all I had to do was go downstairs.”

The Jaguars get a week off before looking to build on the win against Hercules while St. Pat’s hosts Richmond.