Johnson Central struggled offensively in the opening half and Boyle County built a 13-point lead and ended the Golden Eagles emotionally filled season., scoring a 30-13 win, in the Class 4A title game played under the lights at Kroger Field.
Johnson Central, which upset the Rebels in the 2019 title game, finished 12-3.
Running back Zack McCoart rushed for 111 yards in the loss. Chase Price ran for a touchdown. He finished with 62 yards.
Quarterback Grant Rice rushed for a touchdown in the third period to pull Johnson Central to within 16-6.
Price’s TD run kept the Golden Eagles within 10 at 23-13 early in the fourth quarter.
Johnson Central played in the title game for the sixth time in seven years, and their first without late coach Jim Matney who passed away early in the season from complications related to COVID.
Matney’s wife and sons accepted the Region 8 Coach of the Year award prior to kick off in his honor.
At Lexington
(Class 4A state championship)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
JC (12-3)….…0 0 6 7 – 13
BC (14-1)……6 7 10 7 – 30
Scoring:
First Quarter
BC – Cole Lanter, 75-yard pass from Jagger Gillis (kick failed), 3:18
Second Quarter
BC – Jagger Gillis, 9-yard run (Jackson Smith kick), 10:02
Third Quarter
BC – Jacson Smith, 29-yard field goal, 7:00
JC – Grant Rice, 2yard run (run failed), 2:52
BC – Cole Lanter, 13-yard pass from Jagger Gillis (Jackson Smith kick), :55
Fourth Quarter
JC – Chase Price, 2-yard run (Matt Crum kick), 9:29
BC – Jagger Gillis, 1-yard run (Jackson Smith kick), 2:43