VCA running back Jaylen Donald finished with 325 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns in the Patriots’ 62-13 Week 11 home win over Kennedale Fellowship Nov. 7. The Patriots (5-4) clinched the third playoff spot in TAPPS 6-Man Division II District 2, and will travel to face Nazarene Christian Academy in a bi-district playoff game 7 p.m. Friday. MACK THWEATT | WCMESSENGER
Needing a win to earn their second consecutive TAPPS playoff bid, the Victory Christian Academy Patriots relied on running back Jaylen Donald to carry them into the postseason last week.
Donald racked up 325 yards of total offense and eight touchdowns in the Patriots’ 62-13 home win against Kennedale Fellowship, as VCA (5-4) closed out its TAPPS 6-Man Division II District 2 schedule with a 2-2 record.
“I’m very proud of my boys for how they stepped up to the challenge,” VCA coach Nathan Geiger said. “It’s always the goal at the beginning of the season to compete for a district title. But if you fall short of that, your attention turns to getting into the playoff and being able to represent your school. For these kids to have the chance to make the playoffs in our first two TAPPS years is an accomplishment that’s well-earned.”
Donald was a menace in the backfield against the Mustangs’ defense, leading VCA’s run game with 164 yards and six scores on 21 carries.
He added two catches for 65 receiving yards and one touchdown.
Donald also stepped in under center, completing seven of his nine passing attempts for 96 yards and one score — a 25-yard pass to wide receiver Kasen Hill.
VCA quarterback Luke Lowery (6-for-9 for 99 yards) tacked on a 10-yard touchdown pass to wide receiver Nick Cunningham in the fourth quarter.
“We really saved our best game of the season for that one, and it was perfect rolling into the playoffs with some momentum,” Geiger said. “Everything was clicking in all three phases… Kennedale scored on their first drive of the game, and then we finish the game on a 62-7 run.
The Patriots will face a road test in the first round of the postseason against a familiar opponent, traveling to face Nazarene Christian Academy 7 p.m. Friday in Crowley.
The Lions (6-4) went 4-0 to claim the District 1 title, capped off by a 52-0 shutout victory over Weatherford Christian last week.
VCA and Nazarene Christian Academy have seen each other once this season, having participated in a 3-team scrimmage with Mineral Wells Community Christian in August.
“It’s going to be tough,” Geiger said. “They were kind of anemic at the beginning of the year — they started 1-4, and then reeled off 5 straight wins to finish out. They’ve made some adjustments, totally revamped their offense and are running something completely different than we saw in the scrimmage. Their quarterback is a spread back — he’s their Jaylen, so it’ll be a battle between the two of them all night long. It all comes down to whoever gets stopped.”
Geiger believes the Patriots’ chances for a win rest on its tackling ability.
“At this point, it’s whoever plays mistake-free football wins,” Geiger said. “Everyone talks about protecting the ball and not having turnovers, but it’s really about making tackles, especially in the open field. One missed tackle can result in a touchdown.”
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