NEW SMYRNA BEACH -- Barracudas sophomore running back Stephen Jackson is supposed to be the star of the future, but earlier tonight he showed why the future is now, wracking up 100 yards on the ground along with a pair of touchdowns for a 23-7 romp over district 7-4A foe Rockledge at home.
With the victory, New Smyrna Beach, now 1-5 overall, finds itself in a three-way tie in the district at 1-1 with Titusville and Seabreeze of Ormond Beach.
Rockledge falls to 2-3 overall and 0-1 in district play.
Jackson, who scored his second touchdown late in the final quarter on a 35-yard burst that , credited the blockers in the trenches. His initial 2-yard TD-run with just under 4 minutes to go before halftime tied the game at 7-7.
"I think the line did the best job of the night," Jackson said, carrying his shoulder pads and jersey after the post-game huddle. "If it wasn't for the line, I couldn't do it all."
The defense also showed some offense, too.
Jamar McRae got his hands on the football, recovering a Rockledge fumble and rumbled 36 yards to put the Barracudas out fron, a lead they would not relinuish, certainly not with Jackson's score with less than 3 minutes to play.
Head coach Rocky Yocam was all smiles after the game, telling his players in the huddle: "I couldn't be prouder. Good things happen when you work together."
As for getting the proverbial monkey off their back with the first win of the season, especially against a district competitor, the coach said, "It gives us something to work for. I couldn't be happier."
NSBNEWS.net photo by Sera King. Cutline: Stehen Jackson takes a breather after scoring his second touchdown of the game.