BY ANTHONY STEVENS
Sports Correspondent
NORTON, Va. – J.I. Burton already is serving notice that it is likely to be a factor this season in the Region D, Division 1 playoff picture.
The host Raiders were undefeated in the four-team Alpha Natural Resources Jamboree at Lawson-Fitchko Stadium.
J.I. Burton showed some Lonesome Pine District power, as it defeated a couple of Clinch Mountain District foes. The Raiders shutout Lee High 13-0 in one half of play and then squeaked by Lebanon 7-2 in the nightcap.
“We played much better defensively the second scrimmage,” J.I. Burton coach Jim Adams said. “The offense also played well, but the field condition was pretty bad with the muddy turf. We working on things, and I’m sure we’ll find a lot of things we need to correct.”
Quarterback Jansen Bates had two TD passes against Lee High. Bates connected with Martinez Miles on a 15-yard scoring strike for the first score. It put the finishing touch on a 70-yard drive.
Bates later found Timmy Goins with a 25-yard TD pass. The combination of Bates and Goins set up an 8-yard TD run by Marcus Ward for the score against Lebanon.
Miles was explosive on offense in limited carries, and he made his presence felt on defense. Moving to strong safety this season from outside linebacker, he was in on numerous tackles.
“Our whole defense came out and stepped it up,” Miles said. “We have a lot of people that like to hit and flow to the ball. I like playing safety, you get to roam and make plays.”
Lebanon came close to scoring after a Raider fumble was recovered by Evan Campbell on the Burton 4. But the Pioneers failed to score after being stopped on fourth and goal from the two.
But Lebanon’s only score came minutes later. The Pioneers were awarded a safety after J.I. Burton snapped the ball out of the end zone.
“We were pretty ragged,” Lebanon coach John Adams said. “We had a lot of opportunities that we didn’t take advantage of. That’s the most disappointing thing.”
In the opening half of the jamboree J.J. Kelly shutout Lee High 12-0. Sophomore Tyler Graham who rushed for more than 1,300 yards as a freshman for Lee High had several good
runs.
Senior Lucas Kerns had an outstanding game for J.J. Kelly in the win. Kerns had a TD and setup the other Kelly TD with a 62-yard rush.
Kelly lost to Lebanon, 8-0. Jerome Cobb hauled in a 35-yard touchdown pass from Pioneers quarterback Andrew Jessee.
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