Elliot Jacoby Closes 2017 Strong with Win at Stephenville
STEPHENVILLE, Texas – With the conclusion of the 2017 PRCA season just around the bend, a few cowboys are still hoping to cut any available corners in order to qualify for the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo presented by Polaris RANGER.
As it pertains to bull rider Elliot Jacoby, while it may be too little too late, some is better than none.
Entering the weekend ranked 19th in the WEATHER GUARD® PRCA World Standings, Jacoby managed to outwit Lancaster & Jones Pro Rodeo’s Bandit for 89.5 points, notching the win at the fabled Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo. Not only did the Fredericksburg, Texas, native add $2,959 to his season winnings, but he got some other goodies, as well.
“It’s pretty cool,” Jacoby said. “It’s pretty close to the house, not too far. It’s cool to get a rifle, and they give some pretty cool stuff to the winner.”
Jacoby has history with Bandit, a bull capable of providing enough oomph in the one-go format. In June of this year, Jacoby bested Bandit for 86.5 points at the Parker County (Texas) Sheriff’s Posse Xtreme Bulls event. Yet again, the 26-year-old triumphed over the intimidating bull.
“He was really good,” Jacoby said. “He was right there around the right. I’ve been on him a couple times this year, and actually, that was the best I’ve ever scored on him. I was really excited to have him, and I knew I would have a good shot at winning the rodeo or placing pretty high.”
Despite recording the victory, Jacoby couldn’t help but lament on likely missing out on the WNFR.
“It’s all good to win, but I wish I would have done a lot more earlier in the season to put me in the Top 15,” he said.
After qualifying for the WNFR in 2013 and 2014, Jacoby saw his name slotted at 34th and 53rd in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Before the weekend, Jacoby was about $14,000 short of the coveted 15th place in the world standings, a mountain likely too high to climb with the hourglass short on sand. Still, this win doesn’t have Jacoby hanging his head.
“It feels really good to be staying on heading into the new year,” he said. “Hopefully I can come back and keep it up, and this next year will go a lot better.”
Other winners at the $137,371 rodeo were all-around cowboy Tuf Cooper ($6,494, tie-down roping and steer roping), bareback rider Jake Brown (88.5 points on Pickett Rodeo’s Shady Nights), steer wrestler Dirk Tavenner (3.4 seconds), team ropers Jake Orman/Will Woodfin (4.0 seconds), saddle bronc rider Heith DeMoss (88 points on Pickett Rodeo’s Watch The Night), tie-down roper Tuf Cooper (7.3 seconds) and barrel racer Kellie Collier (15.29 seconds).
For more coverage of the Cowboy Capital of the World Rodeo, check out the October 13 edition of ProRodeo Sports News.
Courtesy of PRCA