Senior Night brought out the best in Chris Moak as he led theEnterprise Fighting Yellow Jackets to a 16-14 come-from-behind winover the visiting Gulfport St. John Eagles Friday night. Moak,playing his final game before the home crowd, ran the ball 22 timesfor 164 yards, 117 in the second half, while leading the defensewith 19 tackles.

The win improved the Jackets’ record on the season to 2-7 (2-5in Region 4-1A). St. John fell to 2-6 (2-5).

“The team played hard tonight,” Moak said. “We gave it all wehad. It was my final home game and I wanted to go out likethis.”

The win didn’t come easy for the hosts. St. John took theopening kickoff and marched 52 yards in nine plays to take a 6-0lead after the first quarter. Jared Guidry reached paydirt on afour-yard scamper with 7:15 to play. The extra point attempt wasunsuccessful.

Guidry gave the Eagles a 14-0 lead with 7:44 to play in thesecond quarter as he ran for a 10-yard touchdown to close out aseven-play, 30-yard drive. He also ran for the two-pointconversion.

Enterprise began its comeback on the ensuing kickoff. Taking theball at their own 25-yard line, the Jackets marched 75 yards in 10plays with the drive ending on a 20-yard touchdown pass from seniorquarterback Rodney Barker to senior receiver Zach Jackson. ElliottMcKee kicked the PAT to make the score 14-7 at theintermission.

The Jackets wasted little time in scoring the only points of thethird quarter. Moak ran 36 yards into the end zone at the 9:30 markto finish a five-play, 58-yard drive. McKee’s PAT was blockedleaving the score at 14-13 with one quarter remaining.

A fumble recovery led to the winning points for the Jackets.Taking the ball at their Eagles’ 26-yard line, Enterprise moved tothe 11 before the drive stalled. McKee came on and boomed home a28-yard field goal with 7:27 to play for the final score.

“(Chris) Moak took the game on his shoulders in the thirdquarter,” said Jackets’ head coach Roe Burns, “and the whole teamcaught fire. All our seniors contributed. This being Senior Night,that was great for them. We played with a lot of enthusiasm.”

Justin Minor picked up 86 yards on 12 carries to pace theEagles’ offense. Kyle Ladner had 42 yards on four carries whileGuidry had 27 yards and two touchdowns on 11 carries.

Guidry and Ladd Rhodes combined to complete two of 10 passes for22 yards. Ladner had one catch for 21 yards with J. R. Valdezmaking the other reception.

St. John picked up 11 first downs in the game, were penalizedfour times for 40 yards and lost two of three fumbles. Ladnerpunted once for 38 yards.

“The game went about as I had expected,” said Eagles’ head coachBrad Rhodes. “I wish it would have turned out differently, but wedid a heck of a job.”

Senior Johnathon Martin picked up 22 yards on three carries toaid Moak in the Jackets’ running game. Also carrying the ball wereMT Martin, Deon Pendleton and Barker.

Barker completed five of eight passes for 74 yards and thetouchdown to Jackson. Jackson had four catches for 49 yards whileMcKee hauled in a 25-yard pass.

The Jackets tallied 10 first downs in the game, were penalizedsix times for 55 yards and lost both their fumbles. Barker puntedonce for 27 yards.

Following Moak on defense were Taylor Allen and Jake Walker with12 and 11 tackles, respectively. Allen also has one and a halfsacks with Walker having one sack. Zach Reynolds and Travis Leggettboth had fumble recoveries while Trey Boyd recorded one sack.

Enterprise hits the road this week to visit the Dexter Bulldogs.St. John returns home to face Stringer.