By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
JUNCTION CITY -- Centennial League title implications were on the line Friday night as the Washburn Rural Junior Blues traveled west to take on the Junction City Blue Jays, who posted a 35-20 win.
Jadyn Baum, Washburn Rural
Junction City (5-2 overall, 3-0 in the league) took the opening kickoff and methodically drove the ball down the field with a mixture of the run and pass. In the wildcat formation, junior linebacker Khaliel Walker took the snap and handed off to senior wide receiver Lovell Autry who ran it in for a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Blue Jays a 7-0 lead with 6:20 left in the opening quarter.
While Junction City’s drive took almost six minutes, the Junior Blues (5-2, 2-1) answered in a little over a minute when Jadyn Baum scored on a 51-yard touchdown run, tying the game at 7.
The Blue Jays' next possession was a little over five minutes and on the first play of the second quarter, senior Conrad Gomez threw a 5-yard touchdown pass to Autry, giving Junction City a 14-7 lead.
The Junior Blues were able to drive the ball into Blue Jay territory, but Ryan Austin’s 37-yard field goal attempt was wide left. Rural’s defense stiffened and forced a Junction City punt about halfway through the second quarter.
Washburn Rural’s next possession changed the complexion of the game. On a third down play, senior quarterback John Hoytal wasn’t able to maintain a high snap from center, fumbled and Junction City recovered the fumble at midfield. Hoytal was injured on the play, requiring him to be placed on a stretcher and taken off the field on a cart.
The teams traded possessions to complete the second quarter and Junction City took a 14-7 lead to the locker room.
Washburn Rural had the first possession of the second half and junior Gavin Vantuyl took over at quarterback, led the Junior Blues down the field and tied the game at 14-14 on a 31-yard touchdown run.
The game remained tied for only 14 seconds as senior Kingston Timms took the ensuing kickoff down the left sideline, cut across the field and scored on a 95-yard return, giving the Blue Jays a 21-14 lead.
Rural’s next possession ended in a failed fake punt, giving Junction City excellent field position with a little over six minutes left in the third quarter. The Blue Jays capitalized on the turnover and scored another touchdown on a 19-yard pass from Gomez to junior Brody Boeckman, extending their lead to 28-14.
In the final twelve seconds of the third quarter, Junction City scored their third touchdown of the stanza. From the wildcat formation, Walker took the snap and scored on a 5-yard run. The Blue Jay lead was now 35-14, heading into the fourth quarter.
Washburn Rural had the only score of the final quarter on a 10-yard pass from Vantuyl to senior Nate Selm. The extra point was blocked, accounting for the final score of 35-20.
With the win, Junction City will claim the Centennial League title and will host Emporia next Friday night to finish the regular season.
Washburn Rural will return home to face Manhattan on Friday night.
JUNCTION CITY 35, WASHBURN RURAL 20
Washburn Rural (5-2, 2-1) 7 0 7 6 20
Junction City (5-2, 3-0) 7 7 21 0 35
Scoring Plays
Junction City - Lovell Autry 4 run (Ethan Butler kick)
Washburn Rural - Jadyn Baum 51 run (Ryan Austin kick)
Junction City - Autry 5 pass from Conrad Gomez (Butler kick)
Washburn Rural - Gavin Vantuyl 31 run (Austin kick)
Junction City - Kingston Timms 95 kickoff return (Butler kick)
Junction City - Brody Boeckman 19 pass from Gomez (Butler
kick)
Junction City - Khaliel Walker 5 run (Butler kick)
Washburn Rural - Nate Selm 10 pass from Vantuyl (kick blocked)
Team Statistics
Rushing - Washburn Rural: Baum 17-131, Vantuyl 12-17, Minikwu 6-18, Lone 2-10, Hoytal 1-(minus)-3. Junction City: Totive 16-65, Woods 12-29, Walker 3-11, Autry 1-4, Gomez 3-(minus)-2.
Passing - Washburn Rural: Hoytal 4-6-0, 40 yards; Vantuyl 8-12-0, 50 yards. Junction City: 17-29-0, 186 yards.
Receiving - Washburn Rural: Selm 6-42, Vantuyl 2-31, Baum 3-17, Whiteside 1-0. Junction City: Autry 8-85, Boeckman 3-51, Beane 1-18, Morris 2-15, Tyson 1-8, Lusk 1-7, Woods 1-2.
Punting - Washburn Rural: 5-40.4. Junction City: Timms 2-29.0; Boganowski 1-19.
