PAINTSVILLE – The more things change the more they stay the same.
Johnson Central dismantled Knox Central, 59-20, at Eagle Field this past Friday night to earn a berth in the Class 4A state championship game for the fourth consecutive year.
The Golden Eagles, now 13-1 and winners of 13 straight, will face defending champion Franklin-Simpson (13-1) at Kroger Field at 4:30 p.m., on Dec. 1.
It marks the third straight year the two schools have met in the title game.
Quarterback Ryley Preece rushed seven times for 141 yards and three touchdowns and passed for 75 yards in the win.
Running back Joe Jackson added 179 yards and two scores on 11 carries while running back Devin Johnson ran 11 times for 103 yards and one touchdown.
Bryce Tackett and Zach Russell added one rushing touchdown each.
The Golden Eagles amassed 517 total yards, including 442 rushing.
At Paintsville
(Class 4A state semifinals)
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
KC (10-4)………………….0 14 0 6 – 20
JC (13-1)………………….21 8 23 7 – 59
Scoring:
First Quarter
JC – Ryley Preece, 50-yard run (Jake Headley kick), 9:36
JC – Ryley Preece, 20-yard run (Jake Headley kick), 5:46
JC – Joe Jackson, 72-yard run (Jake Headley kick), 3:45
Second Quarter
KC – Tucker Holland, 1-yard run (kick failed), 9:44
KC – Blevin Campbell, 23-yard pass from Brady Worley (Dane Imel pass from Brady Worley), 6:01
JC – Safety, 3:33
JC – Ryley Preece, 43-yard run (run failed), 2:39
Third Quarter
JC – Devin Johnson, 5-yard run (Zach Russell pass from Ryley Preece), 10:28
JC – Joe Jackson, 6-yard run (Devin Johnson run), 6:30
JC – Bryce Tackett, 3-yard run (Jake Headley kick), 2:11
Fourth Quarter
JC – Zach Russell, 1-yard run (Jake Headley kick), 5:56
KC – Seth Huff, 22-yard run (run failed), :35
Next up: Johnson Central (13-1) vs. Franklin-Simpson (13-1), Class 4A championship, Kroger Field, 4:30 p.m., Dec. 1.