CAIRO — Cairo’s football team hosted Spalding for a first round playoff matchup on Friday night, engaging in an evenly matched back-and-forth battle. However, costly fourth quarter miscues sunk the Jaguars late, leading to a 26-20 Syrupmaker win at West Thomas Stadium.

“It was just a team effort,” Cairo coach Steve DeVoursney said. “The offense scored when it had to, special teams did a good job controlling (Zion Puckett) and not getting him the ball and made a big field goal. All three phases did a pretty good job tonight.”

With Cairo leading 24-20 with 7:24 left in the game, Spalding had a golden chance to move down the field as it had done all night and score a game winning touchdown, while taking up as much time as possible. The Jaguars succeeded at the latter, but three critical mistakes doomed them. 

With just over three minutes left, a Jaguars receiver was wide open down the field, but he misplayed quarterback Shedrick Lindsey’s pass and dropped what could have been an easy touchdown. It did not get any better for Spalding after that fateful moment, with an early snap leading to a Cairo sack on the next play. The Jaguars were forced to punt from their own 8, but a high snap in the end zone gave Cairo a safety, and effectively, a spot in the second round of the state playoffs.

“(The defense) does a good job when the have to stop them,” DeVoursney said. “They’ve got a good quarterback and some really good receivers. I’m glad they didn’t get the ball to (Puckett) a lot. I don’t know how many times he touched it but he’d touch it a lot more if he played with me.”

The Syrupmakers began their night with a three-and-out. After receiving a Cairo punt, Spalding drove 80 yards in just five plays, with a 59-yard run from Yesiah Clemons getting the Jaguars to the 1. Two plays and a false start penalty later, a 3-yard run from Lamont Calloway gave Spalding a 7-0 lead with 8:25 left in the first quarter.

Cairo responded with a drive of its own, marching to the Spalding 25 in 11 plays. From there, Syrupmaker quarterback Matthew Peters rolled to his left and went through his reads, eventually connecting with a wide open Eric King near the left pylon for a 25-yard touchdown with 2:02 left in the first.

Not to be outdone, the Jaguars scored again on their next possession, scoring on a nine play, 67-yard drive that ended with a 15-yard run from Lindsey.

Noah Jones cut Spalding’s lead to 14-10 with a 23-yard field goal with 3:26 left in the first half. With the game looking to be a shootout, Cairo needed to get a defensive play to take the advantage. On Spalding’s last real drive of the second quarter, senior linebacker Tahj Vicks came through, intercepting a Lindsey pass and returning it 68 yards for a score, giving the Syrupmakers their first lead of the game at 17-14 going into the locker room.

The third quarter began with what initially looked like a huge break for Cairo. Jamel Chin came through for the Syrupmakers’ second interception of the night, but on the next play, Cairo gave it right back with a lost fumble.

Spalding was able to get something out of its second chance, driving to Cairo’s 6-yard line and making a 23-yard field goal to tie the game at 17-17. With 10:31 left in the game, the Jaguars added a 32-yarder to go up 20-17.

Cairo needed an answer, and on its next possession, it delivered, beginning a quick drive down the field that started with a bruising 33-yard run from Jamarcus Vicks — his longest carry of the night. Four plays later, Tahj Vicks powered in for a 3-yard score, which ended up being the difference.

“We knew it was gonna be a close game,” DeVoursney said. “They have a lot of athletes. We’ve got a young football team still trying to figure out how to win and play. I’m just happy for these guys and this program.”

Jamarcus Vicks led the Cairo offense with 21 carries for 115 yards. Peters finished 8-of-11 with 54 yards passing and 26 yards on the ground.

Cairo will travel to play 11-0 Burke County next week.