Central’s Jackson Firmin Orchestrates Masterclass in 42-0 State Title Victory

by: Travis Connelley // GeauxPreps.com Contributor

NEW ORLEANS — Following a first quarter where he spent most of the period trying to get into rhythm, Central-Baton Rouge senior quarterback Jackson Firmin quickly settled in not long after and became more comfortable as the game wore on. And it showed on the scoreboard as he led the No. 4 Wildcats to a 42-0 win Saturday over No. 3 Ruston in the Division I Non-Select Football State Championship Game. 

By the end of the opening quarter, Firmin only completed 2-of-5 passes for 68 yards and one touchdown. However, in the second, the Nicholls State commit went 7-of-10 for 93 yards and three additional touchdowns en route to a 17-of-28 233 yards and five-touchdown performance.

“There was a little bit of miscommunication in the very beginning with the pass game, but we came alive in the second quarter,” he said. “It was really the looks that they were giving us. At the very beginning, they weren’t giving us the looks that we saw earlier in the week. They gave us the looks that we did see, in the second quarter.”

Leading 14-0 on a 59-yard touchdown pass from Firmin to Keithon Womack and a Dakavius Mays 18-yard fumble return for a touchdown — both of which came in the first quarter — Firmin began to settle in, in the second. 

He led a 15-play, 69-yard drive that culminated with a 5-yard touchdown pass to Kylen Thomas giving Central a 21-0 advantage. 

Following a three-and-out for the Central defense, Firmin and the Wildcat offense kept the momentum on the visiting side as he hooked up with Steven Ranel on a 40-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the ensuing drive. The score made it a 28-0 game in favor of the Wildcats. 

After yet another stand by the Wildcat defense, the offense continued to roll. Firmin orchestrated a 6-play, 38-yard drive highlighted by an 18-yard pass to Thomas on a 3rd and 12 keeping the drive going. The drive wrapped with a 14-yard touchdown pass from Firmin to Tyrann Williams, marking his fourth passing touchdown, each of which was to a different receiver. 

“It was almost like ‘who do you want to guard,’” Firmin said. “We have the guys to do that, we had the schemed to do that, and (Assistant) Coach Zack (Morris) does an amazing job, our guys up front do an amazing job of blocking in the schemes. We played our best football tonight and I’m very proud.” 

Firmin finished off his big night with his fifth touchdown pass which came at the 7:53 mark of the fourth quarter on a 15-yard pass to Womack making it a 42-0 game. 

After the game, Firmin drew one more cheer from the large, raucous Central crowd after he was named Most Outstanding Player. 

Central head coach David Simoneaux praised Firmin adding that he was proud to see him earn the Most Outstanding Player recognition. 

“It has been a frustrating year. I think that we threw one touchdown in the playoffs leading into tonight,” he said. “Wow! What a performance! And what a culmination of so much work and so much time! He deserved that!”

When asked about winning the award, Firmin didn’t shine the spotlight on himself; instead, he gave credit to his teammates. 

“It should be given to everybody else around me, those 10 other guys on the field,” he said. “I know that I have the stats, but my O-Line did the best that they did all season, my receivers did the best that they did all season. It is unreal to see it all come together, and I know that I get the recognition, but those guys deserve it.”