Ducks FB on bye week after scoring outburst
ANDREW SALMI [email protected]
A statement win midway through the season is very important for first-year head coach Earven Flowers and his squad, especially right before the start of district play. That is exactly what the Taylor High School varsity football team did last Friday night on the road as the Ducks put a 62-35 beatdown on Jarrell High School, spoiling the Homecoming game for the Cougars in front of a packed stadium.
For the first time in his varsity career, Ducks senior wide receiver Jordan Pickerill was able to find the endzone. Not once, not twice, but three times Pickerill hauled in touchdown receptions on throws from Taylor senior quarterback Joshua Mikulencak against the Jarrell defense.
“Scoring for the first time and it being three touchdowns was exciting but I still wanted more,” Pickerill said.
“This game was personal to me. Flowers had called me out before the game and asked me why not give it my all, so I did just that. From now on, it’s personal.”
It was a breakout night for Pickerill as he carved up the Cougars’ defense with five receptions for 82 yards and three touchdowns.
Following a very unfortunate seasonending injury on just the second offensive play of the season for Taylor senior wide receiver Treos Richardson, this Ducks wide receiver core with Pickerill, senior Jacob Mikulencak, senior Jackson Meller and senior Antonio Torres has really stepped up to help their quarterback in Richardson’s absence. “Trusting not only our coaches but ourselves is really big with doing all of the little things,” Pickerill said.
“All summer long we were out on the turf all hours of the day working with Josh on our chemistry and the coaches know not only can we catch and run we can also block. It’s just all of our receivers trusting in what we’re coached to do.”
As for Joshua Mikulencak and his brother Jacob Mikulencak, this quarterback-receiver duo continues to be outstanding this season. Josh has put up incredible numbers through five games with 13 touchdown passes and zero interceptions on 80-of-121 passing attempts, 1,233 yards through the air, 208 yards rushing and seven touchdowns on the ground. As for Jake, he continues to be a big target for his brother to throw to downfield with 28 receptions for 415 yards and four touchdown catches, while Meller leads the Ducks’ receivers with 33 catches for 490 yards and four touchdown receptions.
Behind a stellar offensive line unit with senior Syris Corley, senior Hesston Cranor, junior Ernest Alderete, junior Harrison Tate and junior Eric Camacho, the protection for the quarterback as well as opening up lanes for junior running back Andrias Fisher continues to be a strong point of this team.
Fisher continues to run wild as of late and has rushed for 585 yards and five touchdowns on the ground, while Meller has also rushed for 137 yards and one score.
Although this defense has given up some points on occasion, they do have a knack for forcing turnovers and giving the Taylor offense more opportunities to score. The Ducks (3-2 overall record) will have one week off this week before returning at 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 6 to host San Antonio Davenport High School for a Homecoming showdown with the Wolves.
“The coaches are big on the little things,” Pickerill said. “It’s us vs. us. No old habits.
No past, just us now and staying locked in.
Most importantly, playing with each other, not being selfish and picking each other up. Staying on that gas pedal 100% of the time.”
