Eagles Win Homecoming Game With St. Joseph Christian
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By David Sharp
Knox County (4-2) got back on the winning track with an impressive 72-20 win over St. Joseph Christian in Week 6 area high school football action. The victory made for a Happy Homecoming at Knox County.
Knox County played turnover free football. The Lions (0-6) turned the ball over four times. Braydon Miller intercepted two Caleb Carlson passes. Elijah Ward recovered two fumbles. Ward was named 2021 KCHS Homecoming King.
Lady Eagle softball senior Taylor Walker was elected Homecoming Queen by the student body. Knox County converted several big plays to points.
Branson Miller passed four times for touchdowns and ran for another. Miller was 7-85 yards rushing and went 4-5 passing for 126 yards and four scores. “They gave our defense some tests,” Knox County coach Bruce Vannoy said. “It was good for our guys. They made some adjustments.”
“Not so much with our personnel, but with our front,” Coach Vannoy said. “We came out in the second half and get a shutout on our varsity level. Making halftime adjustments and seeing our guys perform is a positive.”
Braxton McCurren executed an onside kick on the opening play. Austin Jansen raced 30 yards for a touchdown on the first offensive play from scrimmage. Jansen ran in the two point conversion for an eight point lead with 11:52 to play in the first quarter.
The Eagle defense stopped the Lions on downs. Braxton McCurren scored on an eight yard touchdown dash with 7:31 remaining in the period for a 14-0 lead. The two point run failed.
St. Joseph Christian competed hard the entire night. The Lions had 16 players dressed. Caleb Carlson was the lone St. Joseph Christian senior. St. Joseph Christian took possession on their 29 yard line.
Caleb Carlson eluded the Eagle pass rush and found Cy Carlson for a 24 yard touchdown pass on fourth down and seven with 2:58 to play in the first quarter. Caleb Carlson passed to Cy Carlson for the two point conversion.
The Lions trimmed the Knox County lead to 14-8. Braxton McCurren raced 55 yards for a touchdown on the ensuing possession. Braydon Miller caught the two point pass from Branson Miller for a 22-8 Knox County advantage with 2:37 showing on the clock.
The Lions moved the football ten yards before losing a fumble to Elijah Ward on the Knox County 33 yard line. Branson Miller fired a 47 yard touchdown pass to Braydon Miller on the final play of the first quarter.
The two point pass failed for a 28-8 Knox County lead after one period of play. The Lions took over on midfield after an onside kick was unsuccessful. Jacob Clabaugh scored on a four yard run with 8:45 remaining in the third quarter. The pass failed for a 28-14 Eagle lead.
Jacob Becker caught a 34 yard pass from Branson Miller for a touchdown with 8:25 to play in the second quarter. Branson Miller ran in the two point conversion for a 36-14 edge.
Knox County’s defense rose and stopped St. Joseph Christian from scoring near the end of the first half. Brayden Miller intercepted a pass in the end zone. After a discussion, Knox County was awarded possession on their 15 yard line after a touchback with 14.7 seconds until halftime.
Brandon Miller executed an outstanding 42 yard touchdown run with no time showing on the second quarter clock. Austin Jansen ran for the two point conversion and a 44-14 halftime lead.
The teams had nine first downs each in the first half. Knox County held a 181-49 yard rushing lead at intermission. The Lions went 11-16 passing for 86 yards in the first half. Knox County held a 189-135 total yard from scrimmage lead.
Knox County had four first half penalties for 35 yards unofficially to none for St. Joseph Christian. The Lions turned the ball twice in the first half to none for Knox County.
The Eagles scored nearly every time they possessed the football. Tanner Gillaspy got open for a 45 yard scoring strike from Branson Miller with 10:55 to play in the third quarter.
Braxton McCurren scored on a four yard run for a touchdown. The two point pass was successful. Knox County led by a 60-14 margin with 5:16 showing on the third quarter clock.
Austin Jansen scored after a 20 yard run with 1:32 to play in the third quarter. The two point run failed. Knox County took a 66-14 lead to the fourth quarter.
Braydon Miller caught a 35 yard pass from Branson Miller with 7:24 to play in the game. The two point run failed. The Eagles led 72-14. The clock ran continuously the 45 point Missouri Mercy Rule in 8-man football much of the second half.
Caleb Carlson caught a three yard pass from Jacob Clabaugh for the final points of the contest. Elijah Ward recovered a fumble on the game’s 16th possession.
Knox County ended the night with a 341-220 advantage in total yards from scrimmage. The Eagles had five penalties for 45 yards. Austin Jansen rushed five times for 66 yards and two scores. Braxton McCurren was 5-65 yards rushing for two touchdowns. McCurren had two catches for 12 yards and a touchdown.
Knox County rushed 19 times for 215 yards unofficially. Caleb Carlson led the Lions with 19 carries for 49 yards and a rushing touchdown. Carlson was 16-25 passing for 123 yards and a touchdown pass. Carlson had two interceptions against, both by Braydon Miller.
Jacob Clabaugh was 3-5 passing for 14 yards and a touchdown. Clabaugh had five catches for 47 yards. St. Joseph Christian had 16 first downs to 12 for Knox County unofficially. The Lions had two penalties for 20 yards.
“Branson (Miller) is a great athlete. We had to throw some,” Bruce Vannoy said. “That is part of the game plan. We were always looking for deep passes. We really weren’t looking to check down.”
“We hit some short routes early. We got some guys in space and let them make some plays,” Vannoy said. Knox County has the upcoming week off. The Eagles return to the gridiron on Friday, October 15, 2021 when they host St. Paul Lutheran of Concordia.
The (5-1) Saints have been ranked as high as ninth in the state this season. Concordia-Lutheran beat Santa Fe by a 54-0 margin in week six. Concordia-Lutheran won 30-8 at Northwest Hughesville in week three. Knox County lost at Northwest Hughesville 40-28 in week four.
North Shelby is first in the district standings with a 6-0 record and 46-96 points. Knox County (4-2) is currently third in the Class 1, District 2 eight man football standings. The Eagles have 34-73 points. St. Paul Lutheran (5-1) is in second place with 42-45 points.
Northwest Hughesville (3-3) is currently fourth with 31.62 points.