His last run went for 40 yards, setting Middletown up for the go-ahead score on a 2-yard run by Jalin Marshall with 9:07 left.
“We had great blocking on that run,” Junior said, crediting offensive linemen Kevin Henderson and Maurice Tabron and running back Shaitann Wright. “This was a good win. It was tighter than we like, but we all came in ready to do our jobs.”
Junior did his job on special teams as well.
After the Warriors’ opening drive stalled at their own 39-yard line, they lined up to punt, only to have Junior and Frank Frazier break through for a block. Junior picked up the ball at about the 25 and raced into the end zone to put the Middies on top 7-0.
“I think that was the biggest play of the game,” Winton Woods coach Andre Parker said.
However, the Warriors (1-2) didn’t let it get them down as they took advantage of a couple of Middie miscues to stay in the game.
A fumbled snap on a Middletown punt attempt in the first quarter set up Winton Woods on the Middletown 7. Two plays later, Aaron Kemper powered his way into the end zone to tie the game.
Middletown held a 14-7 lead to start the second half, but fumbled on its first play, giving the Warriors the ball on their own 48. Four plays later, Gary Underwood took it in from the 11 to tie the game.
The Middie defense held the Warriors without a 100-yard rusher for the first time in nearly a year. Underwood led the ground attack with 99 yards. The last time Winton Woods did not have a 100-yard rusher in a game was in a 23-14 win over Bishop Watterson on Sept. 17 last year.
“Our defense played great,” MHS coach Troy Everhart said. “But we fix one problem and another one develops. We put the ball on the ground, which resulted in their scores. But still, the defense came up strong and hopefully it is a sign of things to come.”
Marshall completed 8-of-19 passes for 129 yards, his most passing yards of the season.
“We threw effectively last week,” Everhart said. “This week we found more things open. In the Wayne game, we didn’t need to pass. Tonight, we did.”
Contact this reporter at (513) 705-2852 or sweaver@coxohio.com.
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