Unaka came up short on Homecoming 2024.
The Rangers dropped a hard-fought 42-24 decision to Jellico on Friday night at Goddard Field.
Defenses made big plays in the first quarter.
Unaka stopped Jellico just outside the red zone as Ayden Turner jumped on a Blue Devil fumble. The Rangers moved the ball down the field but saw the drive come to an abrupt stop with an interception.
The first quarter ended in a scoreless stalemate.
Jellico opened the scoring in the opening minutes of the second quarter as Samuel Profitt scored on a seven-yard run before Owen Morgan found Mason Dople for the two-point conversion.
Later in the quarter, Jellico’s Bryson Ballard caught a short throw from Morgan and raced 85 yards for a touchdown as JHS went up 16-0.
Unaka, however, battled back as Connor McKinney hit Ashton Fuller for an eight-yard score.
The duo connected for the two-point conversion as Unaka trimmed the deficit to 16-8 at the half.
In the third quarter, the Blue Devils scored on a 42-yard run by Morgan to open the second half. Unaka, however, answered as McKinney broke free on a fourth-and-21 as he raced 35 yards for a touchdown. Micah Gray caught a pass from McKinney to connect for the two-point conversion.
Jellico used a two-yard touchdown run from Tristan Long to take a 30-16 lead into the final quarter.
After Morgan hit Marc Deysenroth for a five-yard score, Unaka wouldn’t go without a fight. Gray caught a 27-yard pass from McKinney for a touchdown, and McKinney added the two-point conversion.
The Rangers, however, were unable to rally in the closing minutes.
McKinney finished with 117 rushing yards on 21 carries, and he went 12-of-23 for 168 yards. Gray had eight catches for 120 yards, while Fuller added 41 yards on three catches.
Profitt led Jellico as he had 130 yards on 14 carries, while Morgan added eight carries for 107 yards and he went 5-of-7 passing for 141 yards.
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