Dec. 19, 2022
By Douglas Pils
One question that went unasked last Thursday after Franklin won its second straight Class 3A state championship in Arlington had to do with a couple of houses in particular.
LaTasha Richardson’s and Harold Jackson Jr.’s households must now find room for two sons’ Offensive MVP awards from a UIL state title game. Sophomore Jayden Jackson earned this year’s honor with 146 yards rushing on 24 carries and the Lions’ only offensive touchdown of the 17-14 victory over Brock.
In 2021, big brother Malcolm Murphy brought the award home after rushing for 280 yards and four touchdowns on 15 carries in a 49-35 victory over Gunter.
“It meant a lot following in my brother’s footsteps because he always pushed me to be great,” said Jackson, who finished the year with 2,212 yards and 32 rushing touchdowns on 238 carries. “It meant a lot to me and my family.”
Jackson, who also made 48 tackles and forced three turnovers at linebacker during the season, found out he won the award in the middle of an on-field post-game interview with Bally Sports. He was instantly emotional about finding out.
“When the lady told me that she confirmed it was just very exciting to me, because coming into the game it was a goal,” he said. “I wasn’t sure if I had got it, so it was very exciting especially after my brother got it last year.”
Jackson surpassed big brother’s rushing total for the season at 2,212 to Murphy’s 1,456 from 2021 and even the current Northeastern State defensive back’s 232 yards receiving last year leaves him short of the monster season little brother just capped off.
Suffice to say, the talk around the house the past few days has been fun.
“I’ve just been excited. He’s just been excited,” Jackson said. “But he also told me that until someone beats his record, no one can brag.”
Murphy’s 280 yards rushing ranks second best all time for Class 3A title games and the 523-yard team total is the best for Class 3A and was just a few yards from breaking the record for all classes.
Jackson has a couple more years to see what he can do to earn more family bragging rights.
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