Eagles can't overcome mistakes, Watkins in loss to Bluejackets

CARLISLE, Ky. — Turnovers, negative plays, and untimely penalties disrupted the Fairview offense and Jayden Watkins ran wild for Nicholas County, as the Bluejackets blanked the Eagles 38-0 on a wet Friday night at Bluejacket Stadium.

The Eagles moved the ball well for much of the game, as they put up 186 yards on the ground and compiled 16 first downs. But it was negative plays inside the red zone and penalties that bogged down many of their drives.

The loss also overshadowed a big night for Jace Murray, who finished with 173 yards on 33 carries. Murray also had 2 receptions for 29 yards.

Nicholas County (5-2) was paced by Watkins, who ran for a game-high 228 yards on 19 carries and scored twice on the ground.

Ty Simons completed 4 of 7 passes for 88 yards and two touchdown passes. Bentley Crump caught two passes for 51 yards and a score. Jayden Robinson had the other touchdown reception.

Fairview's opening drive would signal what was to come as they methodically drove down to the Nicholas 13 in 9 plays. But a penalty and an incompletion in the end zone put the Eagles in a 4th-and-21.

A screen pass from Tevin Smith to Jace Murray would go for 13 yards but fall well short of the line to gain and give the ball to Nicholas.

The Eagles would avoid disaster with a great show of hustle from their defense to thwart a Bluejacket scoring chance.

Watkins took a handoff and broke loose up the home sideline and appeared to be heading in for a 79-yard score, but Charles Fetters was able to pop the ball out at the 2 and the ball rolled through the end zone for a touchback.

However, Fairview (4-3) couldn't take advantage of the takeaway, going three-and-out.

Simons fielded Jayden Miller's punt at around his own 46 and returned it 29 yards to give the Bluejackets a short field to work with.

Four plays later, Watkins scored from 6-yards out for the first points of the night. Bentley Crump ran in the conversion to make it 8-0 with 1:08 left in the opening frame.

The score remained the same through the second quarter, but Fairview would put together one of its best drives of the night in the later stages of the half, but come up short again.

With 8:28 left before halftime, the Eagles leaned on their offensive line and Manning's 14 carries of a 19-play drive to move all the way to the Nicholas 4.

But with the clock ticking down and no timeouts, the Eagles tried to hurry and run Manning one more time on fourth-and-goal, but the interior of the Bluejacket defensive line stuffed Manning for no gain to preserve the 8-0 lead at the break.

The stop would take the wind out of the Eagles' sails and shift all the momentum towards Nicholas the rest of the way.

On the first play of the second half, the Bluejackets dipped into their bag of tricks and ran a reverse pass, as Simons took the reverse pitch and hit Crump streaking down the middle of the field for a 39-yard touchdown toss. Watkins ran in for the two points to make it 16-0.

Watkins would later add his second score on a 6-yard run and Crump ran in for two points to make it 24-0 after three quarters of play.

In the fourth, Simons threw his second scoring pass of the night, this time to Robinson.

Then Easton Adams scored on an 8-yard run and Simons ran in for two points to set the final score.

Fairview 0 0 0 0 = 0

Nicholas Co. 8 0 16 14 = 38

First Quarter

NC — Jayden Watkins 6 run (Bentley Crump run), 1:08.

Third Quarter

NC — Bentley Crump 39 pass from Ty Simons (Jayden Watkins run), 11:46.

NC — Jayden Watkins 6 run (Bentley Crump run), 3:13.

Fourth Quarter

NC — Jayden Robinson 8 pass from Ty Simons (run failed), 9:05.

NC — Easton Adams 8 run (Ty Simons run), 7:55.

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Fa NC

First downs 16 13

Rushes-yards 41-186 23-281

Passing yards 71 88

Total yards 257 369

Cmp-Att-Int 9-21-1 4-7-0

Fumbles-lost 3-2 2-1

Penalties-yards 8-64 5-40

Punts-average 1-32.0 1-49.0

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Individual Leaders

RUSHING—Fairview: Tevin Smith 7-23, Jace Murray 33-173, Team 1-minus 10; Nicholas County: Bentley Crump 2-15, Jayden Watkins 19-228 2-TD, Easton Adams 2-38 TD.

PASSING—Fairview: Tevin Smith 9-21-1 68; Nicholas County: Ty Simons 4-7-0 88 2-TD.

RECEIVING—Fairview: Dreshawn Whitfield 2-20, Hunter Good 4-22, Jace Murray 3-29; Nicholas County: Bentley Crump 2-51 TD, Eligaha Swanner 1-29, Jayden Robinson 1-8 TD.

MISSED FIELD GOALS—None.