Photo credit: KENNY MAYNARD
Johnson Central, which lost late head coach Jim Matney to COVID-related conditions, earned a rematch with Boyle County after beating Franklin County in the Class 4A state semifinals, 42-28, on the home turf named in honor of their longtime coach.
Running back Zack McCoart ran for 199 yards and three touchdowns and Chase Price added 105 yards and two touchdowns. Matt Crum added a rushing touchdown.
The Golden Eagles, now 12-2, are going to their sixth state champion game in seven years when they battle the Rebels at Kroger Field in Lexington at 8 pm on Friday night. Johnson Central upset BC, 21-20, in the 2019 finals.
At Paintsville
(Class 4A state semifinals)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
FC (10-4)…7 3 14 0 – 24
JC (12-2)…8 13 7 14 – 42
Scoring:
First Quarter
JC – Zac McCoart, 68-yard run (Grant Rice run), 11:17
FC – Kaden Moorman, 3-yard run (Easton Powell kick), 6:58
Second Quarter
JC – Chase Price, 25-yard run (run failed), 2:16
JC – Chase Price, 20-yard run (Sawyer Crum kick), 1:37
FC – Easton Powell, 31-yard field goal, :00
Third Quarter
FC – Gavin Hurst, 12-yard run (Easton Powell kick), 9:04
FC – Kaden Moorman, 50-yard run (Easton Powell kick), 3:26
JC – Zack McCoart, 91-yard run (Sawyer Crum kick), 1:06
Fourth Quarter
JC – Zack McCoart, 8-yard run (Sawyer Crum kick), 6:06
JC – Matt Crum, 32-yard run (Sawyer Crum kick), 1:06
Next up: Johnson Central (12-2) vs Boyle County (13-1), Class 4A state championship, Kroger Field, Lexington, 8 pm, Dec. 3.