Thunderbirds Smash Dragons, Advance to 2A Semifinals

Cross County 48, Junction City 22

JUNCTION CITY – Cross County finally got the Junction City monkey off its back Friday night, racing past the Dragons 48-22 in a Class 2A quarterfinal at Paul H. Muse Field and earning a semifinal date with Des Arc next week.

Senior slotback/defensive back Braxton Armstrong set the tone on the game’s first snap, taking a toss left and sprinting for a touchdown to make it 6-0. Junior running back/linebacker Caden Crawford punched in a short scoring run later in the first quarter, and senior tight end/defensive lineman Danny Beale III added the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead.

The Thunderbirds blew the game open in the second quarter. Crawford’s second rushing score and a two-point pass from senior quarterback Kale Searcy to senior lineman Parker Duncan pushed the margin to 22-0. Armstrong followed with another long touchdown run, and Searcy later found Duncan in the end zone to make it 36-0. Junction City finally answered when senior quarterback Dakorey Larry hit senior wide receiver Dakylan Hampton for a deep touchdown just before halftime.

Larry powered a Dragons surge after the break, keeping twice for short touchdown runs and adding a two-point scamper and late conversion pass as Junction City closed to 42-22. Senior back Jaxxon Caldwell chipped in several tough runs to keep drives alive.

Cross County’s flexbone answered when it mattered. Searcy broke free for a third-quarter rushing score, and Crawford’s third touchdown run in the final two minutes sealed it. Defensively, Drake Halk and Dayvion Simmonscame up with interceptions as Duncan, Beale and the Thunderbird front stuffed Junction City’s ground game.

Cross County improves to 10-2; Junction City finishes 10-2.

Scoring Summary

1st Quarter
Cross County – Braxton Armstrong run (conversion failed), Cross County 6-0
Cross County – Caden Crawford run (Danny Beale III run), Cross County 14-0

2nd Quarter
Cross County – Caden Crawford run (Kale Searcy pass to Parker Duncan), Cross County 22-0
Cross County – Braxton Armstrong run (conversion failed), Cross County 28-0
Cross County – Parker Duncan pass from Kale Searcy (Danny Beale III run), Cross County 36-0
Junction City – Dakylan Hampton pass from Dakorey Larry (conversion failed), Cross County 36-6

3rd Quarter
Junction City – Dakorey Larry run (Larry run), Cross County 36-14
Cross County – Kale Searcy run (conversion failed), Cross County 42-14

4th Quarter
Junction City – Dakorey Larry run (Larry pass for two-point conversion), Cross County 42-22
Cross County – Caden Crawford run (kick failed), Cross County 48-22

Standout Players

• Caden Crawford, RB/LB, Cross County – Three rushing touchdowns and relentless yards between the tackles.

• Braxton Armstrong, SB/SS, Cross County – Two explosive touchdown runs, including the game’s opening play.

• Kale Searcy, QB, Cross County – Accounted for two touchdowns (one rushing, one passing) while directing the flexbone.

• Parker Duncan, NG/DT/TE, Cross County – Caught a touchdown, a two-point pass, and anchored the interior defensive front.

• Dakorey Larry, QB, Junction City – Threw a long touchdown to Hampton and ran for two more scores to spark the Dragons’ comeback bid.