The Junction City Blue Jays ( 10-1 )  fell to the Derby Panthers ( 10-1 ) 46-27 in the Sectionals round of the Class 6A postseason playoffs at Al Simpler Stadium.

Derby scored on a five-yard touchdown run by quarterback Brady Rust with 10:36 remaining in the first quarter, and never trailed in the game. The Panthers were up 16-0 before Junction City scored on a 30-yard touchdown by Jovan Baldwin with 7:12 remaining in the second quarter.

But in the third quarter the Blue Jays countered with a 6-yard touchdown run by Raye Wilson, and 20-yard touchdown pass from Ryan Hennington to Wilson, sandwiched around a Derby touchdown. The Blue Jays trailed 23-20 late in the third quarter but never got closer. A Blue Jay drive got to the Derby 30-yard line but after a big loss on a high snap from center the Panthers stopped the Junction City effort. From that point on Derby outscored the Blue Jays 23-7.

It was a tough loss, but Junction City coach Randall Zimmerman said the season was a lot of fun. “Parents have raised some really, really good kids. They were a lot of fun, and I hope that they learned a little bit from us coaches because I sure learned a lot from them.”

Derby will advance to meet Lawrence Free State in the semfinals of the Class 6A playoffs next Friday.