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By Matt Cizek
Contributing Writer

In Shelbyville to play Collins High School (6-1) on Friday night, the Jaguars (1-7) looked to slow down their opponent. Collins QB Kenyon Goodin had other plans.

Goodin threw for four TDs and ran for two more to help lead the host Titans to a 49-13 victory against the Jaguars.

“He’s got a huge arm, so he throws it real deep, and [Collins] have great receivers,” East Jessamine head coach Mike Bowlin said. “He’s [also] really fast, so it’s just ‘pick your poison.’”

While completing 18 of 23 passes for 174 yards with two touchdowns and two interception and rushed for 85 yards on nine carries, Goodin wasn’t the only offensive threat the Jaguars struggled to contain. The Titans scored on their first four possessions.

Keaton Edwards also tallied a touchdown on four carries for 37 yards.

“Sometimes when you’re trying to figure out their passing game, they’ll just take off and run,” Bowlin said.

Through the first half, the Jaguars were able to keep the score within reach. Tajii Jackson, who totaled 10 carries for 105 yards, galloped for a 48-yard score to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter.

“Tajii’s doing a really good job running his heart out, and giving us everything he’s got,” Bowlin said. “We exposed a few things by running at him and getting a few blocks, and Tajii’s going to do what Tajii does. We did some good things on offense.”

Later, Justin Hisle scored on a 1-yard run to narrow the score to 28-13. Hisle finished by completing 3 of 7 passes for 23 yards and one interception, while also rushing nine times for 17 yards.

Perhaps the most consequential play for East Jessamine occurred near the end of the first half.

With the score 28-13 in favor of the Titans, the Jaguars forced a punt and had an opportunity to drive for a touchdown and narrow the deficit to seven points. However, a sack and a forced fumble recovered by Collins led to a touchdown with just 20 seconds remaining before halftime, and gave the Titans a 35-13 lead that they wouldn’t look back from.

“If we could’ve scored right there…[with] getting the ball back to start the second half, it could’ve been a whole lot different,” Bowlin said. “Our kids are fighting every week. We just can’t seem to get over the hump, and that happens when you’re playing a lot of young kids.”

Defensively, the Jaguars were led by seven tackles from both Andre Johnson and Tekenyon Braxton, while Dontae Parker-Morton finished with six tackles.

Next week, the Jaguars will have a bye. Immediately after, they’ll play undefeated Woodford County, which currently averages 49 points per game with the exception of a 1-0 win over Tates Creek due to a COVID cancellation.

For East Jessamine, this might be an ideal time to have a rest in between games.

“We’ve got to give some younger guys some reps, [and] get some of our beat-up guys feeling good,” Bowlin said. “We’ll just continue to work and try to do our best.”