Jackets suffer first loss of season

The Kingston Yellow Jackets came to Lenoir City Friday night with a lot of positive “buzz” about their 5-0 start, only to get swatted by the Lenoir City Panthers by a 42-14 tally.

Lenoir City wasted no time starting off with the offensive fireworks, traveling 76 yards in seven plays to score on a 10-yard Caleb Wilson touchdown run.

The PAT split the uprights and with 9:59 left in the opening quarter, the Panthers led 7-0. 

That lead would get doubled on a three-play,  23-yard journey to the end zone with Wilson rumbling in from seven yards out to make the score 14-0.

Later in the first quarter, the Jackets got in the end zone when “Bruiser” Brody Roberts chugged past the Panther defense into the promised land from 47 yards away. 

Keaton Shillings’ PAT was good, making the score 14-7 with 2:04 left in the first quarter. 

But it didn’t take long for the Panthers to strike back with a display of offensive power when Jaylond Woods took the ball 63 yards to its final destination in the end zone to make the score 21-7 with 1:13 left in the opening quarter. 

Lenoir City, like the Star Wars empire, struck back in the second quarter when a Jordan Hall shovel pass to Woods took the Panthers back to the end-zone to wrap up a nine play, 57-yard drive. 

The two-point play fell short, leaving Lenoir City on top by a 27-7 margin. 

The Panthers offense struck one more time during the first half, covering 48 yards in five plays with Hall finding Lucas Hamilton for a 12-yard touchdown strike. 

The Panther PAT attempt was blocked, making the half-time score 33-7. 

With 8:47 left in the third quarter, Lenoir City’s Dakota Vincil booted a 50-yard field goal through the uprights to make the score 36-7. 

Then with 4:44 left in the third quarter, the game went into continuous clock mode after an 11-yard Hall touchdown run. 

The PAT was no good, making the score 42-7 in favor of the Panthers.

Kingston got to within 42-14 on a Preston Edmonds to Aaron Acosta halfback pass from 38 yards out, giving the Jacket faithful something to cheer about. 

The PAT was good, making the final score 42-14.

Kingston was led on the ground by Roberts (13-101-1 TD) and in receiving by Aaron Acosta (1-38-1 TD). 

Trae Colquitt (6 tackles, 1 sack), Rhett Jones (5 tackles), Roberts and Logan Malenovsky (4 tackles each) led the Kingston defense.

Kingston Statistics

Rushing- Roberts 13-101 with 1 TD, Kitts 8-24, Jones 8-21, Lane 5-11, Edmonds 3-1, Malenovsky 3-(-12).

Passing- Malenovsky 2-8 for 23 yards with 1 INT., Edmonds 1-1 for 38 yards with 1 TD.

 Receiving- Acosta 1-38 with 1 TD, Kitts 1-18, Jones 1-5.