It’s been a rough past couple of days for Jason Chappell’s North Laurel Jaguars.
The Jaguars (5-5) were informed on Thursday by the KHSAA they’d have to forfeit their 43-0 win over South Laurel after North Laurel self-reported the use of an ineligible player during the fourth quarter.
Things continued to snowball Friday after the Jaguars saw 28-14 second half lead evaporate into a stunning 31-28 road loss to Wayne County.
After struggling to get its offense going the past few weeks, North Laurel drove downfield with ease and scored the game’s first touchdown, a one-yard run by Tucker Warren to take a 7-0 lead with 7:26 remaining in the first quarter.
The Jaguar defense continued to dominate until the 4:27 mark of the second quarter as Wayne County’s Antjuan Dumphord hit Wesley Cares with a 27-yard touchdown strike to tie the game at seven apiece.
North Laurel scored its second touchdown of the game with just five seconds remaining in the first half as Warren hit Keaton Bowling with a 40-yard touchdown pass to give his team a 14-7 lead.
The lead didn’t last long, though.
Xavier Tello returned the ensuing kickoff 52 yards for a touchdown to send the game into a 14-all tie at halftime.
The last-second touchdown didn’t seem to bother the Jaguars much at all.
North Laurel came out in the second half and regained the lead as Warren’s second touchdown pass, a 20-yarder to Bowling pushed the Jaguars’ advantage to 21-14 just 48 seconds into the third quarter.
North Laurel’s defense came up with the big play on Wayne County’s ensuing offensive possession.
Treyshawn Holmes-Evans recivered a fumble and raced 10-yards for the score, giving the his team a 28-14 advantage at the 10:27 mark of the third quarter.
Just when it looked as if the Jaguars were ready to pull away, Wayne County answered with a seven-yard touchdown pass from Dumphord to cut the Cardinals’ deficit to 1:42 left in the third quarter.
Wayne County continues to rally in the fourth quarter. The Cardinals added a 19-yard field to cut their deficit to 28-24 with 9:53 remaining in regulation.
Wayne County finished off the comeback win behind Wesley Cares’ four-yard touchdown run with 3:11 left in the contest.
