FAIRMONT — It’s not often Jakelsin Mack lines up out wide for Red Springs, varying from his usual spot in the backfield as the Red Devils’ feature back.
When he did Friday, instead of a run between the tackles, it was time for a run down the sideline. When Chase Boone threw the ball his direction, it tipped off the hands of a Fairmont defensive back allowing Mack to turn back and catch the ball with his right hand, with nothing but the end zone in front of him.
The 33-yard touchdown reception — Mack’s fourth catch and first receiving touchdown this season — gave the Red Devils a two-score lead over the Golden Tornadoes just after halftime, helping Red Springs to a 33-20 victory, its first win of the season.
“I went to receiver, and in my head, I really never drop passes, so I’m thinking ‘maybe this is just going to fall into my hands,’” Mack said. “It didn’t; it hit the corner, but it fell right into my hands like I thought it would. It’s literally like, I’m not meant to drop passes, it’s always going to happen.”