By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
The Junction City Blue Jays got back in the winning column on Friday night, handing the Trojans of Topeka High a 44-6 loss at Hummer Sports Park in Topeka.
Junction City got the ball to start the game and picked up two first downs before they turned the ball over. Due to injuries and some reconfiguration on the offensive line, there was miscommunication between the center and the quarterback. It was an errant snap that Topeka High recovered in plus territory. The Trojans quickly went three-and-out and decided to go for it on fourth and ten. Junction City junior nose guard Trevon Briley sacked the quarterback, and the Blue Jays regained possession.
On the first play of the ensuing drive, Junction City senior quarterback Conrad Gomez hit junior wide receiver Brody Boeckman down the sideline for a 63-yard touchdown connection to give the Blue Jays a 7-0 lead. That was the score at the end of the first quarter.
Both defenses settled in, and it became a sloppy first half, with both sides flagged for several penalties. In the second quarter, Junction City senior Sean Powell intercepted the ball in the end zone on a deep pass by the Trojans’ quarterback, Zane Smith. The Blue Jays took advantage of the turnover and scored on a one-yard quarterback sneak by Gomez. The PAT was no good, and it was 13-0 JC.
After forcing a punt near midfield, the Blue Jays had a special teams miscue. Senior punt returner Lovell Autry picked up the punt inside the ten-yard line, got spun around, fumbled the ball, and Topeka junior Courtney Sanders picked it up and ran it in for a touchdown. The PAT was blocked, and it was 13-6 in favor of the Blue Jays. Junction City added a 22-yard field goal before half by kicker Ethan Butler and JC led 16-6 at the half.
The second half was much better for Junction City all the way around. The Blue Jays converted on third and sixteen on a great scramble and pass by Gomez to senior tight end Ayden Martin. A few plays later, Gomez hit Autry down the sideline for a 50-yard touchdown, and JC led 23-6.
The Blue Jays added three more scores: a one-yard touchdown run by junior running back Josiah Totive, another QB sneak touchdown by Gomez, and a 22-yard interception return for a touchdown by linebacker Toby Johnson. Junction City held on to win 44-6 and improved to 4-2 on the season. The Blue Jay defense did not give up a touchdown in a game for the second time this season. It is the third time this season they've held a team to under ten points.
Junction City (4-2) hosts Washburn Rural (5-1) next Friday night for the homecoming game.
Our player of the game, announced on our 107.9 FM / 1420 AM KJCK Radio broadcast, was defensive lineman Jackson Hollie. (Blu Restaurant in Junction City is our player of the game sponsor.)
**Photos courtesy of Callie Jones.