Yellow Jackets sting Judson, force four turnovers in first victory of ‘24

DEFIANCE, Ohio – Saturday's home opener at Justin F. Coressel Stadium for the Defiance Yellow Jackets turned into a celebration as the home squad defeated the Judson Eagles, 38-20, for the team's first victory since returning to the NAIA.

The Yellow Jackets (1-2) posted their most points to date and outgained the Eagles (1-2) 436 yards to 423. One of the keys to the contest was forcing four Judson turnovers and converting them into 17 points. The victory also snapped DC's five-game home drought with the team's first home win since Nov. 5, 2022.

DC's first takeaway was a result of the game's opening kickoff when Judson's returner coughed up the football and was recovered by Traves Hoyle at the Judson 28. Three plays later, Jehlani Warren scooted into the end zone for his first of three rushing touchdowns. Defiance was not immune to a special teams blunder when a bad snap gave the Eagles the football on the doorstep of the end zone. The Eagles tallied a six-yard touchdown moments later and converted a two-point conversion to take an 8-7 lead.

THE TURNING POINT
A pair of interceptions defined the first half for Defiance's defense. After Judson's go-ahead score in the first quarter, Warren had a pass picked off and returned to the DC 27. However, the rush by defensive end Dominic Harris disrupted the pass of Eagles quarterback Jake Parker and floated near the sideline where Jerry Addo-Boateng snagged his first of two interceptions. The Jackets went on to drive the field for an 88-yard drive to take the lead for good. A winding 47-yard run by Jehlani Warren capped off that drive. 

The second momentum-swinging pick came just before halftime. The Eagles were threatening to cut into the Jackets' two-score lead when V'Sean Palmer undercut a sure touchdown-scoring pass to his first takeaway of the season. Defiance went on to tack on a field goal just before the end of the second period and extended the lead to 31-14.

INSIDE THE NUMBERS

• Jehlani Warren was the central figure in the offense with an economical 10-for-18 passing for 166 yards and two scores, but also added 135 yards on the ground for three touchdowns.
• Cameron Turner had a breakout day with 102 yards rushing and also caught an 18-yard score from Warren in the second quarter. Turner averaged nearly 7 yards per carry for the afternoon.
• Deveon Williams teamed up with Warren on Defiance's longest play of the game, a 63-yard touchdown reception halfway through the third quarter.
• Zeke Sanchez had a solid day kicking the football, going 5-for-5 on PATs and hit a 21-yard field goal. The senior now stands at 96 career kicking points and is just four shy of becoming the third DC kicker to eclipse 100 career points.
• The four turnovers by the Defiance defense were a season-high after compiling three last week.
• Jerry Addo-Boateng increased his interception total to three on the season.
• Coty Johnson II led the Yellow Jackets with 10 tackles, his third straight game leading Defiance in stops.
• Davidson Leconte Jr. (1.5 sacks) and Richard Pope IV each got to the quarterback in the contest and combined for two sacks. Both Pope and Dominic Harris had a pair of hurries as well.
• Judson had 13 total possessions and had four turnovers plus three more drives ending on downs. A total of five drives were stalled out or the ball turned over on DC's end of the field.
• Eagles quarterback Jake Parker entered the contest ranked third among Mid-States quarterbacks in yards per game. He racked up 341 yards in attempt to bring Judson back from behind.

UP NEXT
The Yellow Jackets play the second of a three-game stretch at home by entertaining the Siena Heights Saints next Saturday. Kickoff at Justin F. Coressel Stadium is scheduled for 1 p.m.

-JACKETS-