There are few stats in football as ultimately meaningless as time of possession.
Ask Red Bank High School coach Chad Grabowski.
"Yeah, that's us. We want to be the ones making the big plays," Grabowski said as the mist fell on a jubilant huddle Friday night at Tom Weathers Field. "We know our offense can drive the ball, but we also know we can make those explosive plays.
"We feed on that, and tonight it worked out for us."
The Lions held the ball half as long, ran roughly half as many offensive plays and were almost doubled in first downs by visiting Signal Mountain in the first half. But quick strikes on each side of the ball - the Lions had two touchdowns after two offensive plays - jumpstarted them, and they never looked back.
Those big plays - and one big moment after another from Calvin Jackson - lifted the Lions to a superior showing in the only number that truly counts in a 40-12 win, the Region 3-3A opener for both teams.
"You have to make the most of your touches. You have to be ready," said Jackson, who had a 61-yard touchdown catch and scoring runs of 51 and 2 yards, as well as a 100-yard kickoff return that was called back because of penalty.
"But this was fun tonight."
It sure looked like it. Jackson touched the ball 11 times on offense (four catches, seven runs) and had 198 yards from scrimmage for the Lions (2-1).
The mercurial junior - who has become an all-around star after a breakout sophomore season at quarterback in 2016 - scored three times against Signal (1-2). Add in three kick returns, and Jackson lived up to his billing in the eyes of first-year Signal Mountain coach Josh Roberts.
"He's one of the best athletes in the area for a reason," Roberts said. "When he gets in the open field, it's like he has another gear. We were focused on trying to stop him, but talking about it and doing it are two different things."
Jackson had help, too. Between-the-tackles running back Zay Brown finished with 147 yards and two scores on 21 carries. Quarterback Madox Wilkey finished with eight completions on 13 attempts for 117 yards.
And while the offense was clicking, the game's biggest play was made by Red Bank linebacker Derke Colvin, who stepped in front of a Tom Vatter pass on the opening drive and took it back 76 yards for a score.
"We were just talking about that play," Roberts said moments after the final horn. "That was a huge play because we were driving the ball and had a miscommunication.
"But that's high school football. And you have to tip your hat to Red Bank. They played well and were physical, and that's a credit to them."
Vatter accounted for both of Signal's touchdowns, connecting with Drew Lowry for a 9-yard score and heading to the end zone on a 1-yard run. He was 21-of-39 passing for 213 yards.
Contact Jay Greeson at jgreeson@timesfreepress.com and 757-6343.