JFK repels S. Range, 21-14

The Eagles scored two TDs in a span of 2:26 to break away from a 7-6 lead.
By ERIC HAMILTON
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
ALLIANCE -- When you have the big-play capability that the Warren JFK High football team's offense has, you don't need much time to turn the tide.
Nursing a 7-6 lead with 1:19 left in the second quarter, JFK's explosive offense seized the momentum and Friday's playoff victory in a heartbeat.
Scoring two touchdowns in a span of 2:26, the Eagles turned a one-point lead into a 21-6 advantage and held off South Range in the fourth quarter of Friday's Division V regional final ay Mount Union Stadium.
The 21-14 victory propels JFK (13-0) to the state semifinals for the first time since 2003. The Eagles will face perennial power Amanda Clearcreek next Saturday at a site to be determined.
"We just struggled at times and made some mistakes that you can't make against a good team," South Range (12-1) coach Dan Yeagley said. "We got things going, but then they scored on fourth-and-2 and that was a huge swing."
After South Range chewed up more than 9 minutes with an 80-yard scoring drive to cut the JFK lead to 7-6 with 1:19 remaining in the second quarter, the Eagles went to work.
First, the Eagles blocked the J.C. Willison extra-point attempt to preserve a one-point advantage with the first half winding down.
JFK seizes lead
JFK's offense took over where the special teams left off, scoring in just 1:12 to seize a 14-6 lead as time expired in the first half on a 4-yard fade pass from J.J. Townsend to Desmar Jackson.
The score was set up by a long 43-yard burst from Province down the sideline.
"We broke off a long run and score on a fade pass right before the half and that's a huge turnaround," JFK coach Tony Napolet said. 'It was a great football game between two teams with great traditions. We feel fortunate to be moving on to the next round.
"Our defense has really saved us all year and again tonight we played great against a good South Range team," Napolet said. "We were able to get in the end zone early and hold them."
JFK gave itself some breathing room on the opening possession of the third quarter, scoring in just 1:14, courtesy of a 10-yard run by Province to give the Eagles a 21-6 lead with 10:30 left in the third quarter.
"Province is flat out good," Yeagley said. "On that long run at the end of the half, we were looking for something else, but he just made a great play. JFK is a great football team."
While JFK's pass attack gets a lot of attention for its big plays, it was Province who was the catalyst for the Eagles. The junior rolled up 187 yards and one touchdown, in addition to two kickoff returns for 61 yards.
"I can't thank anyone but my offensive line," Province said. "They gave it 110 percent on every play and never got tired on me. They really stepped it up tonight. We're just going to keep it up all the way to state."
The JFK offense asserted itself early, scoring on its first offensive possession on just five plays. Province was the workhorse, carrying three times for 39 yards. Quarterback J.J. Townsend punctuated the 70-yard drive with a 10-yard scoring run to put the Eagles ahead 7-0 with 8:40 left in the opening quarter.
Raiders contained early
The South Range offense was anemic in the first quarter, as JFK held the Raiders to minus 7 yards of offense.
But in the second, the Raiders started to move the ball. After JFK missed a 28-yard field goal with 10:31 left in the second quarter, South Range went to work.
Holding the ball for 9 minutes, 12 seconds, South Range drove 80 yards in 17 plays to score. Every play in the drive was a run, as quarterback Jack Dawson and Jacob Hudak handled the load.
On third-and-4 at the JFK 5, Hudak pounded over the goal line for the score with 1:19 left in the second. After the teams traded penalties on the point-after kick attempt, JFK blocked the kick to preserve JFK's lead at 7-6.
For a photo gallery of this game, see & lt;a href="http://media.vindy.com/photos/jfkandsr/index.html" & gt;vindy.com. & lt;/a & gt;