LONDON — Jason Chappell’s North Laurel Jaguars will enter next week’s Class 5A playoffs red-hot after recording their second consecutive come from behind win on Friday.
Trailing 14-7 late in the third quarter, quarterback Hunter Morgan and receiver Jack Chappell hooked up with a 70-yard pass play for a touchdown as the Jaguars scored 21 unanswered points on their way to a 35-21 win over Wayne County.
The win improved North Laurel to 6-4 as the Jaguars will head into their first round playoff matchup against Montgomery County next week winning four of their last five games.
“Had a lot of adversity to overcome,” Chappell said. “Our kids played incredibly hard. Defensively, we had a huge challenge in trying to contain some of their explosive playmakers. I felt like our kids were able to handle some adjustments and were able to contain them.”
“Offensively, we moved the ball well in the first half, but made too many mistakes,” he added. “In the second half, we executed at a very high level. We scored 35 on a very limited number of snaps. Going forward, we need to clean up some things, but I was thrilled for our kids to win on senior night. We are looking forward to the postseason.”
Once again, the Jaguars found themselves in a defensive battle during the first half with both teams’ offenses feeling each other out during the game’s first 24 minutes.
After a scoreless first quarter, North Laurel took a 7-0 lead as Ethan Gregory broke free for a three-yard touchdown run at the 5:27 mark of the second quarter.
Wayne County answered with a passing touchdown from 13 yards out, as the Cardinals managed to tie the game at seven apiece heading into the locker room at halftime.
Both teams continued to turn in solid defensive efforts in the second half until the Cardinals’ offensive attack found pay dirt again with a five-yard touchdown run at the 4:32 mark of the third quarter to take a 14-7 lead.
Wayne County’s lead didn’t last long.
Not took one offensive play for the Jaguars to tie the game at 14 apiece as Morgan connected with a 70-yard touchdown pass with Chappell at the 4:09 mark.
The Jaguars reclaimed the lead again with 7:58 left in the fourth quarter as Gregory scored his second rushing touchdown, a four-yarder, to give his team a 21-14 advantage.
North Laurel’s Austin Johnson sealed the win for the Jaguars with 4:24 left in the contest, breaking free for a 21-yard touchdown run while building a comfortable 28-14 lead.
Wayne County scored with 2:06 left but it was too little too late, Johnson added a 22-yard rushing touchdown with 58 seconds left to give the Jaguars a 35-21 win.
