Raiders extend multiple streaks on senior night

By Bryan Eubanks

It was Senior Night at The Brickyard as the Raiders won their 41st consecutive game at home with a 49-3 victory over Starkville Academy on Friday night. With the win, the Raiders also clinched their 5th conescutive North AAA Title with their 31st straight conference victory and clinched home-field advantage for the MAIS AAA-1 Semifinals.

The game started on an interesting note as Starkville elected to try an onside kick to start the game. The kick went out of bounds at the Starkville 49 and JA had a short field to start the game. The Raiders took advantage and traveled down the field in 7 plays capped off by a 28 yard TD run by Duncan Maxwell. Peyton Adams grabbed an interception for the second straight game on the third play from scrimmage for Starkville and on the next offensive play Colin Welsh found Connor Carmody wide open behind the Vol defense and hooked up for a 36yd Touchdown. Daniel Kennedy capped the scoring in the first quarter with a 14yd TD run to make it 21-0 Raiders.

The Raider defense fell asleep a little bit towards the end of the first quarter but stood strong and held Starkville to a 27yd Field Goal by Jonathon Burton. JA added two more scores before halftime by Duncan Maxwell (56yd TD Run & 67yd TD Reception from Welsh). Maxwell finished the half and the game with 18 touches and 200 yards (10 rushes, 188yds, 2TDs — 4 receptions, 82yds, TD). Colin Welsh finished nearly perfect going 6-for-7 for 127yds and 2 TDs.

JA picked up two more scores in the second half as Daniel Kennedy ran 52yds to daylight in the third quarter and Davis Simmons scooped up a fumble and ran 75 yards for the last score of the game in the fourth quarter.

The JA Defense has now collected 9 interceptions in their last 7 games and has at least 1 sack in every game this season for a total of 24 1/2. In their conference games this year, JA has outscored their opponents 258-31 this year.

The Raiders close out the regular season in Greenville as they take on the Washington School Generals (6-3), for the 20th time in school history on Friday, November 8th. Kickoff is at 7:00pm at Huddleston Memorial Stadium. The Countdown to Kickoff Pregame Show will start at 6:00pm on SuperSport 930.