Floyd Central first-year head coach and former Paintsville coach Trevor Hoskins looks on in the season opener at Paintsville. The Jaguars fought tough in the first half, but fell to Paintsville 36-14.
Floyd Chronicle and Times photo by Adam Mahan
The Brian Melvin era at Paintsville got off to a great start as the Tigers powered their way to a 36-14 win over Floyd Central behind the combined rushing of Anderson Lauffer and Brody Howell. The junior tandem combined for 32 carries for 220 yards rushing, and three rushing TDs. Lauffer had a 70 yard kickoff return for a TD as well.
Floyd Central received the opening kickoff and was unable to get anything going as the drive stalled out having the Jaguars facing a fourth down and four on their own 41-yard line forcing the Jaguars to punt.
To make the start even worse for Floyd Central the Jaguars shanked the punt giving the Tigers excellent field position at the Paintsville 46-yard line.
On the first play on offense, Howell broke loose for a 22-yard gain to give Paintsville first and 10 from the Floyd Central 32-yard line.
Then just two plays later, Howell broke loose again and rumbled 29 yards for the score. The two-point conversion gave Paintsville a 8-0 lead with 8:48 remaining in the first quarter.
Floyd Central got the ball back looking to drive down the field looking to match the Tigers’ score, but disaster struck the Jaguars once again when facing a third down and 11 from their own 30-yard line, the Jaguars’ pass attempt was picked off by Lauffer and returned to set up Paintsville with good field position at the Floyd Central 15-yard line with 8:30 left to play in the first quarter.
Shortly after that with Paintsville looking to score again, but disaster struck the Tigers when Parker Helton was intercepted in the end zone by Floyd Central’s Wesley Buck to end the Tigers’ scoring chances and give the momentum to the Jaguars with 6:00 left to play in the first quarter.
Floyd Central took advantage of the turnover. The Jaguars drove down the field and scored on a one-yard TD run by Ethan Curry, but the Tigers stopped the Jaguars two-point conversion which let Paintsville still hold a 8-6 lead with 10:00 to play in the second quarter.
The Tigers tried to answer, but Buck intercepted another pass and returned it 70 yards for the TD. After the successful two-point try, Floyd Central sucked all the air out of Memorial Field by taking a 14-8 with 6:10 left to play in the second quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, Colton Short returned the kick then lateraled the ball back to Lauffer. He was able to scamper 70 yards for theTDÂ to put the life back into Memorial Field, and after a successful two points conversion Paintsville to back the led at 16-14 and all the momentum with 6:00 left to play in the second quarter.
Neither team was able to get anything going in the last 6:00 of the quarter allowing Paintsville to carry the momentum and the lead into the halftime break at 16-14.
Paintsville got the ball to start the second half, and was able to drive down the field and score when Lauffer punched it in from one-yard out. With the two-point conversion, the Tigers lead increased to 22-14 with 9:45 left to play in the third quarter.
Floyd Central got the ball back and looking to score again to tie the game, but disaster struck the Jaguars again when Ketrin Mays fumbled the ball and the Tigers’ Jackson Farrar picked the ball up and rumbled 46 yards for the TD. After the PAT kick, Paintsville increased its lead to 29-14 with 8:00 left to play in the third quarter.
Neither team was able to find the end zone again until Paintsville started a drive with 8:30 left to play in the fourth quarter from their own 30-yard line. Then on the first play from scrimmage, Lauffer broke loose and scampered 70 yards for the TD. After a good PAT kick Paintsville increased their lead to 36-14 with 8:22 left to play in the game.
With both teams locking one another down for the remainder of the game, it allowed Paintsville the Brian Melvin Era off to the right start as Tigers powered their way to the 36-14 win over the Jaguars.
Paintsville was led on the ground by Lauffer who had 12 carries for 118 yards rushing, and two rushing TDs. He also led the team in receiving with two catches for 15 yards, he had a 70 yard kickoff return for a TD and had one interception on defense. Howell had 10 carries for 102 yards rushing, and one rushing TD. Parker Helton led the Tigers through the air as he was four of seven for 33 yards passing and two interceptions. The Tigers’ Charlie Harris had one reception for 10 yards.Â
Paintsville was led on defense by Colton Short who had 12 tackles (1TFL).