Junction City outlasts Harding Academy
JUNCTION CITY – Senior quarterback Shuvasceiaye Frazier racked up 267 yards rushing on 30 carries and tossed for 100 yards on eight completions in a record-setting performance.
Classmate halfback Hishmma Taylor followed with 147 yards on the ground on 38 carries. However, Junction City needed its final drive of the game plus a go-ahead two-point conversion by
Taylor to top
2-3A Harding Academy
31-30 on
Friday night at
Paul H. Muse
Field at David Carpenter
Stadium and advance in the Class 3A
State Playoffs.
Junction City (11-0) totaled 551 yards of offense in 92 plays with the biggest play from scrimmage coming on a 17-yard touchdown run by Taylor that brought Junction City to within a point of the Wildcats. Facing a 4th-and-3 from the Harding Academy 17, Taylor broke through over right guard after fine blocking from the Junction City offensive line and scored, giving the Dragons the option to take the lead or tie the game with an extra point.
After Taylor’s touchdown which ignited the Bordertown faithful, head coach Steven Jones and his staff knew of their decision to go for two before the drive even started.
“Everyone agreed we would go for it at the beginning of the drive,” remarked Jones.
“We have a two-point play we practice for that situation. Coach Thompson suggested another play and we went with it. He gets credit for the twopoint call.”
Taylor’s number was called again and he cashed in on the two-point try to give the Dragons a late 31-30 lead.
Despite the heroics on the offensive side of the football for the Dragons, Harding Academy had a chance to move into field goal range with 1:13 remaining.
After a pass interference call on the Dragons moved the ball to the Junction City 39, the Dragons received arguably their biggest play of the night as senior linebacker Terrell Gibson forced a sack fumble giving Junction City the football and the game.
Offensive numbers aside, Frazier’s biggest play of the night came on the defensive side of the football and served as the turning point in Junction City’s come-from-behind win.
With a chance to either go up two touchdowns or continue to eat away at the clock with the football at the Junction City 5, Harding Academy elected to throw and Frazier managed to pick off the attempt in a diving effort near the back of the end zone.
“Shuvasceiaye made play after play on both sides of the ball," Jones said. "Very proud of his effort, Taylor’s effort, all the guys. Very proud of our guys. They found a way to win.
"Great effort on both sides of the ball tonight.”
Frazier set a school record for total yards by a quarterback in a game with 367 yards, breaking the 321 total yards mark set by Shaquille Hunter against Walnut Ridge in 2012.
Taylor is now fourth on the school’s career rushing yards list. He moved past Ronald Meadows on the list and now has a career total of 3,219 yards. His 38 rushing attempts are the third most attempts in a game by a Dragon running back.
Senior wide out Jalen Davis caught three passes for 75 yards and senior wide receiver Jakobe Fisher caught four passes for 40 yards. Senior Tykeon Hollidy and Davis each recorded four stops and classmate Brock McGoogan followed with 3 1/2 including two tackles for loss.
Junction City improves to 11-2 all-time at home during second round playoff games and 57-14 overall in 21 trips to the playoffs.
The Dragons continue their run in the Class 3A State Football Playoffs and will welcome Clinton (12-0), the top seed from the 1-3A into David Carpenter Stadium for a post-Thanksgiving Day clash on November 24.
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. Fans can catch all of the action live on the Dragon Sports Network via USTREAM.