It was another case of “close, but no cigar,” for the Enterprise Yellow Jackets (0-5) on Friday, as they saw victory snatched from their hands late in the game for a second straight week.

This time the blow was dealt by a McLaurin (4-1) rushing touchdown with around one minute remaining that gave the Tigers a 19-16 victory at Enterprise.

“Our guys didn’t back down or give them an inch,” said Enterprise coach Brooks Burns. “We just couldn’t get them off the field on that last drive. I’m proud of the fight our kids are showing, and they are growing up and getting better every week.”

In the first half the Jackets got on the scoreboard when quarterback Matthew Burns hit Andrew Greer with a touchdown pass. Bryce Jackson rushed in the two-point conversion.

McLaurin led 12-8 at halftime.

With seven minutes remaining in the game, Enterprise would make its move when Burns hit Jalen Grinstead for his second passing score of the night. A successful two-point conversion later and the Jackets had a 16-12 lead.

McLuarin runs a power rushing attack and averages more than 230 yards on the ground per game. All night long the Tigers found their inside runs stopped by a stout Enterprise defense.

Senior defensive tackle Mitchell Poole and sophomore defensive tackle Josh Richardson controlled the interior of the line for the Yellow Jackets. With the line doing their job, the Enterprise linebackers were freed up to work. Freshman Trenton Tarver and sophomore Chase White were two young inside linebackers who helped shut down the Tiger run game.

With the inside runs not working, McLaurin found success running a speed option to the outside. The Tigers ground down the Enterprise defense on the game-winning drive, as they used a steady diet of runs to move the ball down the field.

Enterprise would get the ball back with just under a minute to go, but a failure to convert on fourth down would end with the Jackets turning the ball back over.

Junior Dylan Vaughn was the leading ball carrier for the Jackets, as he rushed for 65 yards. Junior Tailor Young added 53 rushing yards. Junior Dustin Prather ran for 22 yards and also gained 52 yards on returns.

Sophomore Jordan Stephens was the top tackler for Enterprise with nine tackles. Sophomore Lawson Chemin had seven tackles, recovered a fumble and had an interception.

Enterprise is off this week before returning home on Sept. 28 for a homecoming date with Mize.

Story by Cliff Furr