RICHMOND — North Laurel has made a habit of proving prognosticators wrong throughout the season, and they did just that again during Friday’s Class 5A second round matchup against Madison Southern.
The Jaguars (8-4) fell behind 6-0, and followed by scoring 42 unanswered points during their 42-6 rout of the Eagles.
Jason Chappell’s squad advanced to the football program’s second regional title game, and first since 2015.
North Laurel will travel to play top-ranked Highlands (11-1), who cruised past Dixie Heights on Friday with a 40-7 victory.
“Huge win for our program,” North Laurel assistant coach Travis McDaniel said. “To know a spot in the region championship is on the line, and see our kids perform the way they did, is the mentality we want in our program. Similar to early in the season, we dealt with some adversity early on, but our team never doubted what we were trying to accomplish.
“Our defense played another great game, played very disciplined, gang tackled, and created two turnovers,” he added. “Our offense has improved every week, and tonight we had some big plays, but played good consistently throughout the game. We are excited to get another week of football, but it’s a business week. Our team will be dialed in and ready to play for a region championship. Go Jags.”
The Jaguars spotted Madison Southern an early 6-0 lead as the Eagles scored on a 60-yard touchdown pass with 4:34 remaining in the first quarter.
It didn’t take North Laurel long to answer as Hunter Morgan found Carter Kelley open for a 41-yard touchdown strike to give the Jaguars a 7-6 lead with 39 seconds remaining in the opening quarter.
North Laurel found the end zone again on its ensuing possession as Jude McWhorter threw a six-yard touchdown pass to Cole Messer, giving the Jaguars a 14-6 advantage with eight minutes remaining in the first half.
The Jaguars opened the third quarter with Treyshawn Holmes-Evans scoring on a four-yard carry to give his team a 21-6 lead with 8:50 remaining in the third quarter.
Chappell’s squad continued to pull away in the second half as Morgan’s 18-yard touchdown pass to Ethan Gregory made the score, 28-6, at the 6:38 mark of the third quarter.
Holmes-Evans’ second rushing touchdown of the game, a one-yarder, gave the Jaguars a 35-6 advantage with 11:51 left in the game.
Morgan’s third touchdown pass, a 19-yarder to Messer, put the finishing touches on the win with 5:44 left to make the score, 42-6.
