The Woodford County High School football team answered a third-quarter rally with three touchdowns and a pair of fourth-down stops to beat Collins 55-34 in a district game Oct. 9 at home.
The Jackets built a 37-20 halftime lead before Collins scored twice in the opening four minutes of the second half to pull within three points. Woodford responded with the final 18 points, and Wyatt Peters had an interception late in the fourth quarter to end Collins’ final opportunity.
Foxx Coons threw five touchdown passes, connecting twice each with Omari Jointer and Kael Rihtar and once with Greyson Hodge. Ryan Brown, JT Jackson and Darrian Tomlin also scored touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets.
The win sets up another district game next week with Scott County, and coach Dennis Johnson saying a championship will be on the line.
“We just looked dynamic. Offense stepped up,” Coons said.
Woodford scored five touchdowns before halftime, including two on fourth downs in the second quarter. After Collins cut the lead to 37-34, the Yellow Jackets added a touchdown in the third quarter and two more in the fourth while keeping the Titans from scoring again.
Johnson said Woodford started well but had to regroup after giving up the two quick touchdowns after halftime.
“But our guys responded,” Johnson said. “Got enough stops when we needed to.”
Those stops became the difference in the fourth quarter. Woodford twice took possession on downs, including once after losing a fumble near the Collins’ goal line. The second stop gave the Yellow Jackets a short field for their final touchdown.
Brown opened the scoring with a touchdown run with 9:48 remaining in the first quarter. Woodford took advantage of a short field, and a successful two-point conversion gave the Yellow Jackets an 8-0 lead.
Collins needed just one play to answer. Kade Goodin connected with Josh Cochran for a 73-yard touchdown with 9:31 remaining. Woodford kept its lead when the Titans’ two-point attempt failed.
Jackson followed with a touchdown after Woodford used jet motion to draw the Collins defense. The extra-point extended the Yellow Jacket lead to 15-6 with 5:57 left in the quarter.
Goodin appeared to answer with a 74-yard touchdown run, but a holding penalty erased the score. Collins later scored when Goodin found Aviyan Delaney in the back of the end zone with 2:17 remaining.
The extra-point pulled the Titans within 15-13 heading into the second quarter.
Woodford’s next touchdown came on fourth-and-15. Coons connected with Jointer, who got past a Collins defender to finish the play with 10:40 remaining in the half. The Yellow Jackets added a two-point conversion to extend their lead to 23-13.
Goodin again brought Collins closer, finding Jackson McIntyre in the corner of the end zone for a touchdown with 8:19 remaining. The extra-point made it 23-20.
Woodford answered with another scoring possession. Coons found Jointer on third down to move the Yellow Jackets to the Collins’ 15-yard line with 5:52 left.
Tomlin finished the drive on fourth-and-one, scoring with 5:14 remaining. The extra-point pushed Woodford’s lead to 30-20.
The Yellow Jackets added one more touchdown before the break. Coons connected with Rihtar with 25 seconds remaining, and Woodford took a 37-20 advantage into halftime.
Collins erased much of that margin early in the third quarter. Cochran scored his second touchdown with 10:19 remaining, cutting Woodford’s lead to 37-27.
Two minutes later, Goodin scored on a run. The extra-point brought Collins within 37-34 with 8:19 left in the quarter.
Johnson said Goodin’s ability to extend plays had been a focus throughout the week. He praised the quarterback’s strength and work ethic, along with the problems he creates when a play moves beyond its original design.
“He works his tail off,” Johnson said.
Woodford answered the two Collins scores when Coons found Hodge up the seam for a touchdown with 6:04 remaining in the third quarter. The two-point attempt failed, leaving the Yellow Jackets ahead 43-34.
Peters intercepted a pass on Collins’ next possession, but a pass interference penalty erased the turnover. The Titans continued their possession before missing a field goal with 1:15 remaining in the quarter.
Johnson said his defensive backs had to continue competing through the penalties and focus on the next play.
“You gotta put it out of your mind and just play,” Johnson said.
Jointer caught his second touchdown pass with 8:39 remaining in the fourth quarter, using a spin move as he completed the scoring play. Woodford’s lead grew to 49-34.
The defense followed with a fourth-down stop. Goodin’s pass fell incomplete, giving the Yellow Jackets possession with 8:02 remaining.
Woodford moved near the Collins’ goal line but lost a fumble with 6:42 left. The turnover gave the Titans another chance to cut into the lead.
The Yellow Jackets stopped Goodin short of a first down on Collins’ next possession, taking over at the Titans’ 15-yard line with 5:30 remaining.
Coons then connected with Rihtar for their second touchdown of the night with 3:14 left, extending Woodford’s lead to 55-34.
Peters ended Collins’ final opportunity with a one-handed interception. This time, the turnover stood, allowing Woodford to take possession and finish the game.
“It was surreal,” Peters said. He credited practicing against Woodford’s receivers and learning from the plays they make.
Peters said the preparation would remain important as the Yellow Jackets turn their attention to next week.
Coons also identified the red-zone turnover as something Woodford needs to correct before its next game.
Johnson said the team still has work to do, but its response against Collins put the Yellow Jackets in position to play for a district championship against the Cardinals in Georgetown.
“That’s going to be a huge one down there, so we’ll be ready to go,” Johnson said.