2nd Quarter Dooms Patriots in Opener

JCHS vs. Knox CentralStaff Photo by Mike Stanley, Jefferson County Post Sports

JCHS vs. Knox Central
Staff Photo by Mike Stanley, Jefferson County Post Sports

Jefferson County High School kicked off their 2014 campaign on Friday night however, it wasn’t the outcome they had wanted as they fell to Knox Central, 31-17. Jefferson County Head Coach Kenny Cobble was still optimistic, “ The great thing I saw and I hope everybody else saw, was that they came out and they fought their guts out.”

The Bobcats won the toss and elected to receive. Their offensive possession was short lived when on their first play from scrimmage, JCHS defensive back, Michael Ealy, ripped the ball from the Central ball carrier and the Patriots recovered the fumble. Jefferson County would capitalize with a 26-yard field goal by Gio Morales and led 3-0.

That momentum didn’t last long , as Central would return the ensuing kickoff 90 yards to the Jefferson County 10-yard line. The Jefferson County defense would stand tall and hold the Bobcats to a field goal. The score after the first quarter was tied , 3-3.

The Bobcats would take advantage of some Patriot miscues in the 2nd quarter and take a commanding 24-3 lead heading into the half. “I would like to have about 3 series back there towards the end of the half.” Cobble said . He added “We didn’t play well enough, they had the momentum and cashed in there and we didn’t. We couldn’t get them off the field.”

The Patriots came out a different team in the 3rd quarter, Cobble says they simply answered a challenge , “We challenged them at halftime to understand, how they came out in the 3rd quarter would help define who they were the rest of the season.” After a 28-yard completion from Noah Carter to Joey Jennings, Dakota Cody would plunge his way in from 4 yards out to cut the lead to 24-10 with 5:41 remaining in the 3rd. After the defense stood tall and forced a 3 and out the offense was back at it again. Junior quarterback, Noah Carter, would find fellow junior, Gorel Soumare for a completion of 23-yards. Five plays later, Carter would sneak in from a yard out to cut the Bobcat lead to 24-17 with 1:32 remaining in the quarter. That would be the score heading into the 4th and final stanza.

Knox Central would find the endzone with 8:26 remaining to again extend the lead to 14 points. In an effort to bring his team back, quarterback and leader of the offense, Noah Carter would throw his only interception on the night and end the comeback for the Pats as they fall, 31-17.

JCHS vs. Knox CentralStaff Photo by Mike Stanley, Jefferson County Post Sports

JCHS vs. Knox Central
Staff Photo by Mike Stanley, Jefferson County Post Sports

Source: Mike Stanley, Jefferson County Post Sports