Junior Warriors remain unbeaten with win over McCrory

EPC (6-0, 4-0) kept their record perfect with a 22-12 win over McCrory this past Thursday night in junior high football action at Warrior Field in Lepanto.

The Junior Warriors got the ball first after Jack Glover recovered the onside kick-off at the EPC 36-yard line. Quincy Perry wasted little time as she broke loose on a 64-yard touchdown run to make it 6-0 EPC with 7:40 left in the opening quarter. Perry added the two-point run making it 8-0.

The Junior Jaguars answered with a drive of their own ending in a long touchdown run to make the score 8-6 EPC with 6:28 left. The two-point conversion was no good. Glover fair caught the ensuing kick-off for the Junior Warriors only to see the offense cough up the ball with McCrory recovering at the EPC 38-yard line with 5:30 left. The Junior Jaguars turned the ball over on downs at EPC capitalized with Ashton Reel finishing off the Junior Warriors' drive with a 39 yard touchdown run with 54 seconds left making the score 14-6 EPC. The two-point try was no good. McCrory stuck back quickly as they fielded the onside kick and split two defenders and raced 53 yards to the end zone making the score 14-12 with 43 seconds left. The two-point try was no good. The quarter ended during EPC's possession.

Cayden Worsham of EPC drops the McCrory runner for a loss during junior high football action in Lepanto.

EPC started the second quarter at the McCrory 46-yard line and capped the drive with a Perry one-yard run to push the lead to 20-12 with 5:54 left. Gabe Williams ran in the two-point conversion to make the score 22-12 Junior Warriors. EPC recovered the onside kick only to turn the ball over downs as McCrory did the same on the possession. The first half ended during EPC's possession.

The Junior Jaguars used most of the third quarter to drive into EPC territory only to have AJ Johnson pick-off a pass in the end zone with 1:44 left. The quarter ended during the Junior Warriors' drive with EPC leading 22-12.

The fourth quarter was much like the third quarter. EPC was forced to punt the ball away on their first possession with 5:36 left. McCrory turned the ball over downs on an incomplete pass with 1:42 left before EPC took a knee twice to run the clock out and take the 22-12 win.

A.J. Johnson of EPC intercepts a pass in the end zone to stop the McCrory drive during EPC's win this past Thursday in Lepanto.

“We came out with a couple players not getting to start tonight, We are battling being out on fall break but we did a good job of stringing enough together to get the win,” EPC head coach Michael Nash said after the game. “We have a big game with Cross County next week and will need everybody all week at practices with another week of fall break to contend with,” Nash added.

Perry had 11 carries for 132 yards and two touchdowns and completed two of four passes for 24 yards to lead the Junior Warriors. Reel added two carries for 51 yards and a touchdown. Johnson had two catches for 24 yards. Perry and Reel led the EPC defense with eight and six tackles respectively with Johnson adding an interception.