By CHARLES SPURLOCK
Special to TopSports.news
The Washburn Rural Junior Blues battled against Centennial League foe Emporia Spartans on Homecoming night Friday in Topeka. In a game where the Spartans gained more yards offensively, it was the Junior Blues who gained the upper hand, winning 24-8.
On the Junior Blues' opening possession, they had a nine-play, 58-yard drive, culminating in a 20-yard touchdown run by senior Jadyn Baum, giving Washburn Rural a 7-0 lead.
Washburn Rural senior Jadyn Baum rushed for 183 yards and scored three TDs in Friday's 24-8 win over Emporia. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
Both teams remained scoreless for the remainder of the first quarter but Washburn Rural was able to get back on the scoreboard four minutes into the second quarter on Baum’s second touchdown of the game, a 5-yard run that gave the Junior Blues a 14-0 lead.
Just three minutes later, Rural was able to extend its lead on a 22-yard field goal by senior Ryan Austin and the Blues took a 17-0 lead into halftime.
Senior Max Bervert caught two passes for 59 yards in Washburn Rural's 24-8 win over Emporia. [Photo by Doug Walker/Special to TSN]
The third quarter saw both teams make excellent adjustments, but with just 1:33 left in the third stanza, Baum scored his third touchdown of the night on a spectacular 40-yard run. Baum followed up last week’s three touchdown performance against Topeka High by repeating the feat against Emporia.
The Spartans were finally able to get on the scoreboard with just a little over a minute left in the game on a 1-yard run by senior running back Ben Collins. They were able to convert the two-point conversion on a pass from sophomore quarterback Cael Claibourn to senior wide receiver Talon Kirk.
Washburn Rural improved their record to 3-2 on the season and will travel out of state next Friday night to face the Millard West Wildcats of Omaha, Neb. Kickoff will be at 7 p.m.
WASHBURN RURAL 24, EMPORIA 8
Emporia (2–3. 0-2) 0 0 0 8 -- 8
Washburn Rural (3-2, 2-0) 7 10 7 0 -- 24
Washburn Rural -- Baum 20 run (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Baum 5 run (Austin kick)
Washburn Rural -- Austin 22 field goal
Washburn Rural -- Baum 40 run (Austin kick)
Emporia -- Collins 1 run (Kirk pass from Claibourn)
Individual statistics
Rushing -- Emporia: Collins 26-146; Rodecap 10-37, Claibourn 14-18, Kirk 1-1, Clifton 1-(-5). Washburn Rural: Baum 22-183, Lone 3-1, Ingold 2-(-10), Wallace 2-(-16).
Passing -- Emporia: Claibourn 5-10-1, 55 yards. Washburn Rural: Wallace 4-13-0, 71 yards.
Receiving -- Emporia: Franklin 1-23, Kirk 1-17, Kline 1-13, Rodecap 1-3. Washburn Rural: Bervert 2-59, Schumacher 1-7, Whiteside 1-5.
Punting -- Emporia: Franklin 3-39.0. Washburn Rural: Austin 3-39.3.
