Mistakes allow Dragons to soar

Saturday, November 24, 2012

— All it took was one mistake to get Junction City started, but the Salem Greyhounds kept contributing to the Dragons’ 34-6 victory Friday in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A playoffs.

The Greyhounds drove to the Dragons’ 16 on their opening possession, but Mario Hayes stripped the ball with 8:06 left in the first quarter and Junction City took off from there, aided by the other miscues by Salem (11-1).

The Dragons (12-1) needed just six plays to score after the fumble on a 4-yard touchdown pass from Shaquille Hunter to Jonathan Mitchell. Jarkell Brown added his first of four extra points and Junction City led 7-0.

Later in the quarter, following an interception by Brown, Junction City increased its lead to 14-0 when Hunter completed a 34-yard touchdown pass to Mitchell.

Early in the second quarter, after an interception by Keyundra Evans, Salem fell further behind.

This time, Hunter connected with Brown for a 47-yard touchdown pass. The extra point attempt was blocked, leaving the score 20-0 with just over seven minutes remaining in the first half.

Layne Kirkland came through for Salem with a second-half interception off Hunter, but the Dragons’ defense soon struck again.

Jamario Bell, a 6-6 sophomore, intercepted a Dillon Hunter pass at the Greyhounds’ 28.

All Junction City needed was one play to add to its cushion as Shaquille Hunter ran 28 yards for a touchdown with 8:40 remaining in the quarter.

Hunter led the Dragons with 174 yards rushing on 15 carries.

The Dragons came up with another interception of a Dillon Hunter pass with 7:58 left in the third quarter, but the Greyhounds’ defense stood firm this time, leaving the score 27-0.

The Greyhounds broke through in the fourth quarter when Blake Hensley scored on an 11-yard run. Junction City players thought they had recovered a fumble on the play, but the officials ruled that Hensley already had crossed the goal line.

Salem then went for two, but its conversion attempt was stopped and the score remained 27-6 with 10:17 left to play.

The Dragons added their final touchdown after recovering a fumble.

With just over four minutes remaining, Dorian Evans ran 5 yards to score, and Brown’s last extra point gave Junction City the 28-point victory.

WALNUT RIDGE 50, MURFREESBORO 26

MURFREESBORO - Walnut Ridge (11-2) rolled up more than 500 yards of total offense and its defense came up with four interceptions as it defeated Murfreesboro (9-4) in the quarterfinals of the Class 2A state playoffs at Holloway Field.

Walnut Ridge travels to top-ranked Junction City for a semifinal match up next Friday.

Walnut Ridge fullback Tyler Clement rushed for 65 yards and 3 TDs, and quarterback Zach Crisler completed 17 of 23 passes for 266 yards and 1 score to go along with 87 yards and 3 touchdowns on the ground.

Walnut Ridge scored on its first four possessions, driving 77, 95, 60 and 89 yards to take a 28-0 lead. Walnut Ridge piled up 330 yards of total offense before the Rattlers found the end zone.

Kyle Turbeville scored touchdowns on runs of 12 and 24 yards for Murfreesboro. Peter Saygnaphay completed 10 of 22 passes for 190 yards and ran 12 times for 71 yards, including 23 on a late touchdown run. Joe Quiroz had seven receptions for 139 yards.

Murfreesboro managed just 91 yards of offense in the first half and had 15 snaps compared to 45 for Walnut Ridge.

Sports, Pages 33 on 11/24/2012