Big Plays Doom Patriots vs Science Hill
Staff Photo by Mike Stanley
On the week of “the ‘ole ball coach,” Steve Spurrier, calling it a career from the college coaching ranks, Jefferson County ended it by playing on Steve Spurrier field in Johnson City. If that wasn’t enough to get the Hilltoppers ready to play, maybe getting their starting quarterback, Justin Bedard, back was.
Science Hill started things fast with a 7 play 71 yard drive capped off by an 8 yard King Russell touchdown. After a 3 and out for JCHS, the Toppers once again scored quickly 2 plays later. This time it was Colby Martin, who raced 53 yards for another hilltopper touchdown, and the rout was on. Head coach Kenny Cobble took responsibility for the loss saying, “This one is on me.” He added, “We didn’t coach it well enough as coaches, and we didn’t play it well enough as players.”
It wasn’t all bad for the Patriots, however. On Science Hill’s next possession they busted a long run of 54 yards down to the Patriot 5-yard line. On the next play though, senior lineman Noah Smiley ripped the ball free and returned it 12 yards up to the 16-yard line, which gave the Patriot offense some breathing room. After another 3 and out, Science Hill was back on the attack, but that was short lived as Noah Carter intercepted a Justin Bedard pass, and suddenly the Patriots had their best starting position of the night at the Topper 47. That led to a Carlos Gaytan 35-yard field goal, which made the score 14-3 with 10:58 remaining in the first half.
The push was short lived: Bedard found Tyrek Perkins on a 76-yard touchdown on a busted coverage from the Patriot defense. “We came out the first 2 or 3 series not ready to play, gave up some big plays, and that is the story of the ball game,” Cobble explained after the game.
The score was 34-10 at the half, but JCHS had a breath of life when senior tailback Dalton Morgan caught the ball across the middle of the field, bounced off of a would-be tackler, and took it 37 yards for what would be the Patriots’ final points scored in the contest with 4:10 left in the 3rd quarter. The Toppers would add 2 more touchdowns in the third, giving you the final of 48-17. “You can’t play a team as good as they are and have to play yourself too,” Cobble explained. “We had to do that tonight.”
The Patriots would finish the evening with 212 yards of total offense. Austin Jenkins finished 13-21 for 135 yards and a touchdown. Dalton Morgan would finish with 46 total yards on 4 touches and a touchdown, while Michael Ealy carried the ball 6 times for 43 yards. Senior Noah Carter would finish the night with 51 total yards on 8 touches. The Hilltoppers would finish with 476 yards of total offense, including 260 yards through the air.
Jefferson County (3-5) returns home to face off with their old rival, Kingsport Dobyns-Bennett (4-4), on Friday night at 7:30 at Leroy Shannon Field.
Staff Photo by Mike Stanley
