‘Like a movie.’ North Laurel’s big win over Johnson Central might be just the beginning.
Casual high school football fans scanning last Friday night’s scores no doubt paused a moment over one particular result: North Laurel 15, Johnson Central 14.
While the Class 5A Jaguars (1-1) have had a number of winning seasons over the years, including an 8-3 mark last time out, they do not have the reputation of Class 4A powerhouse Johnson Central (2-1), a two-time state champion and their class’s 2021 runner-up. The Golden Eagles play smash-mouth football and rely almost exclusively on a triple-option run attack to devastating effect.
“They are a great team and everyone was talking them up all week,” North Laurel linebacker Austin Johnson said. “I love teams like that. And 90 percent running, you know, that’s me, that’s all me. I like to hit. ... Friday nights, man. I love it. No other feeling can beat it.”
What might be more remarkable than the final score, however, was how North Laurel did it in front of a boisterous home crowd at The Jungle.
“It was about like a movie,” Johnson said. “It felt like we were in a movie for sure. It was awesome.”
Setting the scene
North Laurel marched down the field on its opening drive and took a 7-0 lead on a 12-yard run by Ethan Gregory. Johnson Central responded in the second quarter with a 7-yard pick-six by Jesse McCoy and a 68-yard breakaway by Zack McCoart to take a 14-7 lead into halftime.
But that’s how the scoring stood until the dramatic last few minutes of the game.
“We’ve got a pretty talented group, especially when someone tries to line up and run right at us,” said first-year North Laurel Coach Jason Chappell.
And a season-opening 43-35 loss to Bell County stung his team all week, Chappell said.
“I think they took it personal what happened at Bell County,” Chappell said.
When Chappell took the North Laurel job in the offseason after a successful year at Pineville, he had an open spot on the Jaguars’ schedule left to fill.
“I was hoping to fill that with Johnson Central,” he said. “It sounded really good at the time. I thought if we’d played Johnson Central, we’d get better, but when that week came up, I was about so stressed out that I couldn’t breathe.”
The big finish
North Laurel finally made headway against Johnson Central’s defense midway through the fourth quarter, driving deep into red zone territory only to see another Johnson Central interception snatch away the chance at the goal line. The Golden Eagles’ Seth Davis fell forward to give his team the ball at their own 3-yard line with 5:18 left in the game and leading 14-7.
The Jaguars’ defense did not hang their heads, though. They bowed their necks.
“We had a lot of confidence,” said senior defensive tackle Clay Morris. “Our defense really stood up the whole game and went toe-to-toe with them.”
After a 3-yard gain, North Laurel’s Johnson dropped the Golden Eagles’ running back for a 3-yard loss. A third down sweep brought the Golden Eagles to the 12-yard line and set up a fourth-and-1 with 3:23 left.
A punt might give North Laurel the ball at midfield. A first down would mean Johnson Central could probably milk the clock for the victory. Johnson Central opted to go for it.
Morris split his blockers and met Johnson Central’s running back as he took the handoff. He fell for no gain.
“It was a group effort. I kind of tripped him up,” Morris said. “The rest of the defense just came in and swarmed him.”
North Laurel turned Johnson Central over on downs at the Golden Eagles’ 12 yard-line with 3:17 to play.
The Jaguars had their chance at redemption and so did quarterback Tucker Warren. But a running play and a quarterback scramble went for next to nothing, leaving a third down and long.
Shrugging off his two critical interceptions, Warren hit John Begley perfectly on a slant to his left for a first down at the 1-yard line. Warren dove in for a TD on the next play with 1:41 left in the game.
“Words can’t explain it. It’s all just a blur,” Warren said. “There was so much excitement.”
A dead-ball penalty against Johnson Central moved the ball up a yard for the conversion attempt. Chappell didn’t hesitate to go for two points and the win trailing 14-13.
“If there are situations where I can put it in their hands, I’m going to,” Chappell said. “That’s why we practice the plays. … I like to try to win the game. We had (1 yard) to go. Let’s go win it.”
Warren slipped around right end and into the end zone for the go-ahead conversion.
“I was really hoping we’d go for two. I wanted that win,” Warren said. “Once we got the penalty, I knew we’d go for it.”
North Laurel turned Johnson Central over on downs after the kickoff and took a knee to close out the game.
Dealing with prosperity
There’s no doubt defeating Johnson Central in the home opener felt like a big win, perhaps the biggest win in Chappell’s 24-year coaching career.
“I don’t remember one that I felt like was bigger,” Chappell said. “But I told our kids today that if we had lost a big game last Friday night, ‘I would have told you to forget about it today and move on. I’ve got to do the same thing with a big win. You’ve got to put that behind you.’
“You don’t get to take any points, or any stops or anything from last Friday night with you.”
The Jaguars welcome a 2-1 Shelby Valley team this week that seems to be a polar opposite of Johnson Central offensively, throwing for more than 300 yards per game with dual-threat QB Russ Osborne, while still having a potent rushing attack with Jayden Newsome.
Later, comes a district schedule that includes No. 21 Southwestern and No. 24 Pulaski County, along with one of Chappell’s former teams, Whitley County, and South Laurel.
The win over Johnson Central boosts the team’s confidence, but Chappell doesn’t really want his team to think of that victory as an upset.
“Physically, I felt our kids were just as big and strong as theirs, and I told them going into the game I thought we would be as big and strong and we would be as fast,” Chappell said. “The question was, ‘Are we going to be as tough, are we going to be as physical, and are willing to play like that for 48 minutes?’ I think our kids answered that call.”
