Jackson-Olin 31, Parker 21: Mustangs score first playoff berth since 1999

The goal was clear for the Parker.

“Coming into this hostile environment, we knew we had to make plays or go home,” said Mustangs running back Braylan Johnson.

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“At the half, coach told us to stay calm and go out and win this game. If we want it, it’s ours for the taking and we did just that.”

Johnson did his part in making big plays to help Jackson-Olin secure its first postseason berth since 1999 with a 31-21 victory over the Thundering Herd.

He scored on a 13-yard run on the opening possession of the third quarter to spark a 17-point second half. Jackson-Olin (7-2, 4-2 in Class 6A, Region 6) scored on its first two drives of the third quarter to pull away after the game was tied at 14 at the half. The first drive went 49 yards in six plays and was capped by Johnson’s 13-yard run, and the next possession covered 56 yards in 10 plays and ended with Coynis Miller’s 2-yard touchdown run.

Defensively, the Mustangs held Parker to 75 yards in the second half.

-- Star of the game: Johnson finished with 80 yards rushing and three touchdowns and totaled 175 yards.

-- By the numbers: 10, tackles by Jackson-Olin standout and Auburn commitment Tadarian Moultry. … 7, This is the first time Jackson-Olin has won 7 games since the 1997 season.

-- Coachspeak: "Parker played very hard, and our kids did too tonight. Mistakes were made on both sides of the ball. We have fought through adversity all year, and tonight was no different. I am so proud of these seniors. They are the first group that came with us four years ago, and here we are four years later in the playoffs for the first time since 1999." -- Jackson-Olin coach Tim Vakakes

“At the half, I told them we have to come out with some fire. I told them that we were just 24 minutes away from making the playoffs. Braylon managed to gain and make the plays when he had to and protected the football.”

-- They Said it: "We knew coming into the game that it was going to be a hard fought game, so we prepared for that the whole week. Our goal was to win this game and go to the playoffs and we accomplished that goal. Our defense is better than we played tonight. We have to do better to advance in the playoffs to accomplish our second goal." -- Tadarian Moultry

-- Next week: Jackson-Olin plays at Fairfield, while Parker (4-4, 2-4) is at Woodlawn to close the regular season.