The Emporia High football team was toe-to-toe with Junction City Friday night at Welch Stadium.
Trailing 39-36 entering the fourth quarter, the Blue Jays shut down the Spartans by scoring two touchdowns, including one off an interception in a 53-36 victory over EHS on Senior Night.
EHS jumped to a 3-0 lead on an Alex Allemang field goal with 4:38 left in the first quarter.
Junction City took a 6-3 lead before E-High took a 10-6 advantage on a 12-yard touchdown reception by Sheldon Stewart from Fred Jackson with 6:20 left in the second quarter.
The Blue Jays then took a 12-10 lead and was followed by Jackson connecting with Jalyn King for a 58-yard touchdown reception with 3:12 to play making it 18-12. Junction City took a 19-18 lead with 50 left before. E-High got into field goal range for Allemang who knocked through a 40-yard field goal that gave EHS a 21-19 lead at halftime.
Junction City regained the lead on the third play of the third quarter making it 26-21. After a Junction City punt, King gave EHS a 29-26 lead on a 71-yard punt return with 8:31 left in the third. Junction City scored just 46 seconds later to make it 33-29 and extended it to 39-29 with 4:40 to play.
Bobby Trujillo’s 1-yard touchdown run with 2:37 left in the third pulled EHS back within three, 39-36, but it was the closest it got the remainder of the way.
Junction City’s Logan Nabus scored both of its touchdowns in the fourth quarter.
EHS produced a season-high 36 points and 435 yards of total offense.
Jackson was 22-of-32 for 332 yards and two touchdowns and also ran for 62 yards on 14 carries.
King was Jackson’s top receiver with five catches for 125 yards and a touchdown.
EHS drops to 1-7 on the season and 0-4 in Centennial League play. The Spartans will travel to Topeka to face former Centennial League rival Highland Park at Hummer Sports Park at 7 p.m.. You can hear the game on 14 KVOE-AM/96.9 FM with coverage beginning at 6:40 p.m.
