By Anthony Gorges
JC Post
On homecoming night, in front of a packed crowd at Blue Jay Stadium, the Junction City Blue Jays beat the Washburn Rural Junior Blues 35-20 on Friday night.
The Junction City offense took the field to begin the game on Friday night, looking to build off its 44-point performance in week six at Topeka High. The Blue Jays wasted no time and got into a rhythm right away, running and throwing the ball. JC took five and a half minutes off the clock on the opening drive of the game and scored on a four-yard jet sweep play to senior Lovell Autry. (The Blue Jays actually got in the wildcat formation for this play, with junior linebacker Khaliel Walker taking the snap and giving it off to Autry, who scored when he ran from left to right into the end zone.) JC led 7-0 after the opening drive.
Washburn Rural, like they always do, responded with a nice drive of their own. After picking up a quick first down to begin their drive, running back Jayden Baum broke free from the Blue Jay defense and scored on a 51-yard run to tie the game at 7-7 with 5:08 to go in the first quarter. 7-7 was the score at the end of the first quarter.
On the first play of the second quarter, on third-and-four from the Junior Blue five-yard line, senior quarterback Conrad Gomez hit senior receiver Lovell Autry in the end zone for his second touchdown of the game. JC took a 14-7 lead into halftime.
To begin the second half, Washburn Rural had a backup quarterback in the game after their starter, John Hoytal, was carted off the field on a stretcher late in the first half. Credit to the Junior Blues and backup QB Gavin Vantuyl, who scored on a 31-yard quarterback keeper on a run-pass-option (RPO) play early in the third quarter.
Then, the game changed. For the first time this season, the special teams unit for Junction City put a touchdown on the board.
Tied at 14 with 8:56 to go in the third, Washburn Rural kicked it deep, and Kingston Timms caught the punt at his own five-yard line. Timms returned the ball up the sideline, cut back into the middle of the field, and they did not catch him. A 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown put the Blue Jays back in front by a touchdown, and JC led 21-14 with 8:43 to go in the third quarter.
The Blue Jays tacked on two more touchdowns in the third quarter, one a pass from Gomez to junior Brody Boeckman, and the other a wildcat rushing touchdown by junior Khaliel Walker. JC led 35-14 at the end of the third quarter.
Washburn Rural added a touchdown with four minutes to go in the game, but the extra point was blocked, and JCHS held on to win 35-20.
With the win, the Blue Jays improve to 5-2 on the year and host Emporia next Friday night for senior night. (If Junction City wins, they will win the Centennial League outright.)
Washburn Rural falls to 5-2 and hosts Manhattan next Friday night.