Defense, air attack helps Musketeers knock off Central for 1st time since 2003

PAINTSVILLE — If the term "signature win" needed a description written in a dictionary somewhere, this game would definitely be worthy.

Backed by a stifling defense and some big plays through the air, the Greenup County Musketeers took down the Johnson Central Golden Eagles 25-19 in a big district showdown on Friday night

The win was something that Greenup coach Travis Jones and his team had been searching for for some time now: a signature win.

However, it wasn't so much a signature win because they beat one of Eastern Kentucky's top programs, but it was how they did it.

Coming into the game, the Eagles main backs had accumulated over 2,100 rushing yards and 22 touchdowns. But the Greenup defense held them in check for much of the night, including a first half where they surrendered just 27 rush yards and one first down. Central finished with just 119 yards on the night.

The defense did its job and so did the offense.

Quarterback Jasper Davis completed 14 of his 19 passes for 171 yards and had 3 touchdown passes. Davis also ran for 85 yards. Two of Davis' main targets on the night were Nolan Clarkson with 7 receptions for 103 yards and 2 TD receptions — all game highs. The other receiver was Landry Lewis with 6 catches for 65 yards and a score.

Ashur Wireman was also one of the main workhorses of the offense, carrying the ball 21 times for 85 yards.

The win not only gave the Musketeers their first win against Central since 2003, but it also opens the door for Greenup to secure a second place finish if they can win next Friday and earn a home playoff game in the opening round.

After a 4th down stop on Central's opening possession, Greenup wasted little time taking the lead.

Wireman ripped off a 29-yard run on the first play from scrimmage to set the Musketeers up deep in Central territory.

Then on fourth down, Davis hit Clarkson down the sideline off a double move and Clarkson made a diving catch all alone in the end zone for the score. Carter Nunley added the extra point to make it 7-0.

Following an Eagle punt, Greenup went back to work and scored again on their next possession.

Davis tossed his second touchdown pass of the night on a strike to Clarkson again, who beat his man on the deep ball for a 41-yard score to make it 13-0.

A key play in the drive came with the Musketeers facing a 3rd-and-17 from their own 38. Davis managed to hang tough in the pocket while the rush was one and threw a pass to Lewis down the middle of the field and Lewis climbed the ladder to take the ball away from a Central defender and pick up the first down.

Greenup (6-2, 2-1) added to their lead again late in the half when Davis plunged in on a keeper to make it 19-0 at the break.

Seeing their offense sputter for most of the night, the Eagles (3-6, 1-2) finally got on the board to cut into Greenups' lead.

A key play came on their second possession of the second half when Pacey Howard dropped back to pass off a play fake to Perry and found Carson Matney streaking over the middle of the field for a 49-yard gain to the Greenup 5 after being dragged down by Davis.

Two plays later, Perry took a toss to the short side of the field and nosed his way in to put the Eagles on the board. Gage Ashley added the extra point to make it 19-7 at the 5:15 mark of the third.

Greenup would get the ball back and put together a clutch drive that not only consumed time, but also turned into points.

Facing a 4th-and-2 from midfield, the Musketeers decided to go for it and the gamble paid off as Davis kept it on a designed sweep to the short side, found a crease between the blocks of Melvin Collin and Josh Wells, and scampered 28 yards up the sideline to push the ball deep into Eagle territory.

On the opening play of the fourth, Davis made a play fake again, turned and fired a strike to Landry Lewis on a slant for an 11-yard score and put Greenup ahead 25-7.

But as one would expect from a good team, the Eagles would respond with their comeback effort.

A 12-yard run from Pacey Howard and a 20-yarder from Perry quickly set the Eagles up at the Greenup 11.

On the ensuing play, Perry got the dive handoff and ripped his way through defenders for the score and cut the Musketeers lead to 25-13 with 11:01 to play.

Central would come up with a 4th down stop with under five minutes remaining and even get a first down off a scramble from Howard to get near midfield.

But the drive would be shut down just a couple plays later when Howard dropped back to pass and had his throw intercepted by Lewis at the Greenup 46 with 3:59 on the clock.

Unable to move the ball, the Musketeers were forced to punt it back to Central with 2:45 to go.

Howard would make two huge plays to get the Eagles in the end zone. First, Howard scrambled his way 24 yards early in the drive. Then on the final play, Howard ran to his right and let go a pass as he was hit and Rylan Kelsey came up with a tip drill touchdown catch to cut Greenup's lead to just six with 1:10 showing on the clock.

Central got the bounce it wanted on the onside kick, but Noah McCullough made the recovery and the Musketeers ran the remaining time out to get the win.

The Musketeers travel to Morehead next Friday to face Rowan County. A win would secure a second place finish in the district and clinch a home playoff game in the first round.

Greenup County 13 6 0 6 = 25

Johnson Central 0 0 7 12 = 19

First Quarter

GC — Nolan Clarkson 23 pass from Jasper Davis (kick no good), 7:24.

GC — Nolan Clarkson 41 pass from Jasper Davis (Carter Nunley kick), 0:45.

Second Quarter

GC — Jasper Davis 1 run (kick blocked), 1:00.

Third Quarter

JC — Braxton Perry 4 run (Gage Ashley kick), 5:15.

Fourth Quarter

GC — Landry Lewis 12 pass from Jasper Davis (kick no good), 11:56.

JC — Collin Cantrell 11 run (kick no good), 11:01.

JC — Rylan Kelsey 20 pass from Pacey Howard (kick blocked), 1:10.

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GC JC

First downs 13 10

Rushes-yards 35-170 2 9-119

Passing yards 171 92

Total yards 341 211

Cmp-Att-Int 14-19-0 5-8-1

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-0

Penalties-yards 4-45 6-37.5

Punts-average 2-34.5 2-27.5

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Greenup County: Jasper Davis 14-85 TD, Ashur Wireman 21-85; Johnson Central: Pacey Howard 5-41, Collin Cantrell 8-23 TD, Rylan Kelsey 1-11, Braxton Perry 13-40 TD, Brennon Daniels 2-4.

PASSING—Greenup County: Jasper Davis 14-19-0 171 3-TD; Johnson Central: Pacey Howard 5-8-1 00 TD.

RECEIVING—Greenup County: Nolan Clarkson 7-103 2-TD, Ashur Wireman 1-3, Landry Lewis 6-65 TD; Johnson Central: Rylan Kelsey 3-32 TD, Cooper Daniels 1-11, Carson Matney 1-49.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.