DEMOPOLIS &8212; While John Essex High School fell in their jamboree game against R.C. Hatch High School, new head coach Fentress Means said the group showed several highlights along with several areas that need work prior to the regular season.

Means&8217; group saw a run of cramps during the game that thinned out available players in the already thin roster. Means said the late start by the group, which has had to play catch up since its first full-team practice on Aug. 14, did not allow for the proper conditioning regiment.

Means said it was the depth difference in the two teams that lead to the group&8217;s loss. He said he only had eight substitutes to rotate in to replace those suffering from cramps, many of which were seventh and eighth graders.

The first half was the deciding factor for both teams, neither of which managed to add to the 26-20 score after the finish of the first. While the Hornets managed to put up three touchdowns, turnovers and penalties hurt the group as much as the lack of depth from the cramps. They turned the ball over on two fumbles and two interceptions and saw the yellow rag hit the ground 13 times giving up 80 penalty yards.

Freshman starter Gerald Bruno showed why he was tapped to lead the group&8217;s offense, though he allowed turnovers. He threw for 75 yards and completed eight of 10 passes, while tossing in a six-yard touchdown run after a R.C. Hatch High School turnover.

His pluck was further shown when, while facing a rush, he threw a bad pass that resulted in a pick and turned around the next play on defense and intercepted the ball to regain possession.