Downey Wood scored on a nine yard touchdown run with 5:01 remaining to help complete a

Blue Jay rally from a seven point halftime deficit against Washburn Rural. The score by Wood and the ensuing extra point put the Blue Jays up on the Junior Blues by seven on homecoming night at Al Simpler Stadium 20-13.

That score held up as Junction City ran out the clock in the closing seconds to maintain the seven point margin, and get the 20-13 victory.

The touchdown by Wood followed an earlier score by Junction City on the opening play of the fourth quarter. Tanner Lueker hit Xavier DeGuzman on a 17-yard touchdown pass play for the Blue Jays.

Blue Jay coach Randall Zimmerman credited the Junior Blues for being a good football team. “And they played lights out tonight . Coach ( Steve ) Buhler did just an outstanding job of having them ready to go. Made it really really tough on us the whole ballgame. I’m really proud of our kids, the way they came back and battled in that second half, and made some plays. Our defense pitched a shutout in the second half, and that’s tough to do against a team that’s as good as that team is.”

Washburn Rural scored on a 41-yard touchdown pass  from Blake Peterson to Jake Michalski on their opening possession of the ballgame. The Blue Jays countered with a drive on their opening possession that ended with Jovan Baldwin catching a pass from Tanner Lueker and scoring from five yards out. The Blue Jays extra point try for two was unsuccessful, leaving Junction City behind 7-6.

The Junior Blues got two second quarter field goals from Perry Schmiedler to lead by seven at halftime 13-6. But then the Blue Jay defense did not allow any scoring by Washburn Rural in the second half.

Junction City improved to 4-1 with the win, while Washburn Rural fell to 1-4.