Many thought Friday’s matchup between North Laurel and Shelby County could be a trap game for the Jaguars after Jason Chappell’s squad came away with a 15-14 win over Class 4A state power Johnson Central last week.
North Laurel might have stumbled out of the gates but when the going got tough, the Jaguars got going, scoring 20 unanswered points to defeat the Wildcats, 27-12.
Shelby Valley got on the scoreboard first after matching downfield and reaching the end zone with a four-yard touchdown run by Russ Osborne. The Wildcats failed to find pay dirt on the two-point conversion, but still managed to hold a 6-0 lead with 7:59 remaining in the opening quarter.
After struggling on offense int he first quarter, North Laurel finally found the end zone in the second quarter.
Tucker Warren’s eight-yard screen pass to Jack Chappell gave the Jaguars a 7-6 lead with 11:53 remaining in the first half.
It didn’t take long for Shelby Valley to answer and regain the lead after scoring on its ensuing offensive possession.
Osborne’s second rushing touchdown, a 10-yarder, increased the Wildcats’ lead to 12-7 with 7:52 remaining in the first half.
North Laurel returned the favor on its next offensive series. The Jaguars moved down field, as Ethan Gregory capped things off with his second rushing touchdown of the season, a seven-yarder, to give his team a slim 13-12 lead at the 5:01 mark of the second quarter.
Jason Chappell’s squad got some breathing room in the second half after Warren’s 65-yard touchdown pass to John Begley made the score, 20-12 just 16 seconds into the third quarter.
Gregory put the finishing touches on the win with his second rushing touchdown of the game, a one-yarder, as North Laurel’s lead grew to 27-12.
