JEFFERSON — It was a history making night Friday at Jefferson Memorial Stadium as the Jefferson Dragons ran through the visiting Westminster Wildcats 35-7 to advance in the Class AA state playoffs. 

“They wanted to make history.” said Jefferson Coach T. McFerrin, “We talked to the team about doing something that hadn’t been done since 1977.”

Not only are the Dragons (11-1) moving onto the quarterfinals for the first time since 1977 but they will also play at home next Friday against Fitzgerald.

The Dragons rode the feet of quarterback Bryant Shirreffs and a stingy defense to advance to the next round.

Shirreffs rushed for 243 yards and three touchdowns. He also added 80 passing yards and one touchdown pass. 

In total, the Dragons rushed for 397 yards and outgained the Wildcats (5-7) 474-179.

The game didn’t start the way Jefferson imagined as it faced a 7-0 deficit less than two minutes into the game.

On the first play from scrimmage, Dragon quarterback Bryant Shirreffs found his receiver on a slant pass for 12 yards. However, a Westminster defender stripped the ball and Harrison Fiveash picked up the loose ball and returned it to the Dragon 22-yard line. Four plays later, Cameron Seward bullied his way into the end zone, giving the Wildcats the early lead.

“After that first fumble and the scored quickly it looked like it was going to be a long night for us,” McFerrin said. “The defense played great. Our defense was unbelievable tonight.”

Jefferson responded with a 13-play drive to tie the game with 3:44 left in the first quarter. The biggest play of the drive, and maybe the game, was on fourth-and-goal from the Wildcats’ 1-yard line. Shirreffs faked a handoff to his fullback, kept the ball as he rolled to his right, and pushed his way in for a score.

The play actually called for Shirreffs to pitch the ball to his running back but he saw a hole and kept the ball, bulling his way in for the first Dragon score.

McFerrin showed no hesitation in going for the touchdown as opposed to kicking a field goal early in the game.

“We needed to score,” he said. “They have such a good offense. We needed to score.”

After the Dragons’ defense forced a punt, the offense put together a 10-play drive capped by a 12-yard touchdown pass from Shirreffs to Dalton Hill. Hill had beat his defender for position in the end zone and made a diving catch to put the Dragons ahead 14-7 with 10:07 left before halftime.

Leading only by 7, Shirreffs broke off a 71-yard run, taking the ball down to the Wildcats’ 4. On the play, Shirreffs took the snap from the shotgun, rolled to his right, and found nothing but open field. He nearly outraced the Westminster defense but he was finally tripped up at the 4-yard line.

Sammy Williams scored two plays later to make it a two touchdown advantage for the Dragons.

The second half saw Shirreffs add to his outstanding performance. Two of his three carries went for scores, seemingly on the same play and from the same formation. Not only did he pick up great blocks from his offensive linemen, but also from his receivers and backs. 

If not for the performance of Shirreffs and the rest of the Jefferson offense, the story of the night was certainly the way the Dragons’ defense contained a very good Wildcat offense. Westminster was held to only 67 rushing yards while quarterback Jake Forte only had 8 rushing yards. He did add 112 passing yards to eight different receivers.

All night long, Dragon defenders Wesley Simonton, Kody McDonald, Tay Stevens and Micah Carpenter led the stuffing of the Wildcat offense. Stevens had one sack while Carpenter recovered a fumble for the Dragons.

“It was a great night for Jefferson and a great night to be a Dragon,” McFerrin said.