By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
In a defensive battle, the No. 6 seed in Class 6A West, Derby, knocked off No. 3 seed Junction City in the second round of the playoffs. The Panthers beat the Blue Jays 28-7 in Junction City.
Junction City started the game with the ball but struggled to move it early. The Blue Jays punted, and then Derby did too, as both defenses started off the game stout. On the second Junction City drive, JCHS senior quarterback Conrad Gomez hit senior receiver Lovell Autry deep down the field at the Derby 18-yard line. Junction City faced a fourth-and-one and was stuffed when they ran out of the Wildcat formation with junior Khaliel Walker.
Derby then responded with a 91-yard drive and scored the first touchdown of the game on a six-yard rushing touchdown by junior quarterback Blade Clark. Derby led 7-0 after the first quarter.
In the second-quarter action, both teams struggled to move the ball. The Blue Jay defense kept Junction City in the game, turning the Panthers over on downs twice and also creating a turnover right before halftime. Senior cornerback Marshall Karmann had a spectacular one-handed interception at the four-yard line, not only holding Derby out of the end zone but also getting the big takeaway. Neither team was able to do anything before the half, and Derby led 7-0 at the break.
In the second half, the Panthers began with a big kickoff return and then a penalty on the Blue Jay kickoff unit. Derby began the second half with their first offensive snap at the JC 32-yard line. Again, the Junction City defense held firm and ultimately held as Derby missed a 42-yard field goal from the left hash mark.
Not long after the missed field goal, it was the Panthers’ defense that came up big. Junction City senior Conrad Gomez’s pass was intercepted and returned for a touchdown. With 7:18 to go in the third quarter, Derby led 14-0.
Despite the two-score deficit, the Blue Jays fought back. On the ensuing kickoff, senior Lovell Autry found some space and blasted through for a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. JC trailed 14-7 at this point. Derby then quickly responded and scored on a 39-yard rushing touchdown, again by Clark, his second of the night.
The Blue Jays had many chances down the stretch, but the Panther defense was too much to handle. In the fourth quarter, Derby blocked a JCHS punt, and then junior Arieus Finley scored on a rushing touchdown to make the score 28-7, and that was the final.
With the loss, the Blue Jays are eliminated from the playoffs and end their season with a 7-3 record. Junction City’s season highlight was going undefeated in league play and winning the Centennial League.
“I could not be more proud of this group of kids,” Junction City head football coach Randall Zimmerman said. “Our seniors gave us so much this year and believed in each other and fought like crazy. We really came a long way.”
Zimmerman highlighted the growth with each practice and each game; the kids gave their all. “It’s so hard to watch them walk off, especially our seniors,” Zimmerman said. “For tonight, we just couldn’t run the ball; they stalemated us and made us one-dimensional, throwing the ball. Derby is a very good team, but again, I just want to say I am so incredibly proud of our kids for how hard they fought and how well they played this season.”
*On tonight’s 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio broadcast, we named two Players of the Game sponsored by Blu Restaurant in Junction City. The recipients were junior linebacker Toby Johnson and senior defensive lineman Noah Aguon. (For being our Players of the Game recipients, both players will receive a coupon from Blu Restaurant of Junction City for a free meal of up to $20.)
For Derby, the Panthers advance and will play at No. 2 seed Wichita Northwest next Friday night. You can view the full 6A bracket here.
*A special shoutout and thanks to Callie Jones for providing us with photos from every game this season.