DANE FUELLING
WZBD.com
MONROE – Reece Hammond started the scoring and he ended it.
Two defensive touchdowns gave the Adams Central Flying Jets the edge they needed to defeat Eastside and capture their fifth consecutive sectional title in Monroe, 53-32.
Hammond scooped and scored (see below, photos by Kristen Kaehr) just minutes into the game, getting the Jets in the right mindset and decimating the hopes of Eastside early on.
After the first drive of the second half ended in a Joey Everett touchdown, Adams Central led 32-0. Three failed PAT attempts were the only thing keeping the game from going to a running clock.
Then things got real interesting.
Eastside followed with three straight touchdown drives, converting their two-point tries in each instance to cut the lead all the way down to 39-24 and just two scores with eight minutes to play.
The Jets manufactured a classic Adams Central drive in response, however, working the ball down to the 1-yard line. Jamison Roach punched it in to put the game out of reach.
The exclamation mark on the night came from Hammond, though.
Desperately seeking a quick score, Job Richman, the Eastside quarterback who nearly single-handedly kept the Blazers in the game, was picked off by Hammond, who ran 44 yards for his second defensive score of the night, sending the Jets’ fans into a frenzy.
The defending state champion Jets are now just three games away from defending their title and they are just win away from clinching a move up to 3A football in 2026 and 2027.
Eastside actually outgained the Jets in the contest, showing the importance of the Hammond scores. The Blazers had 14 more offensive snaps and had 397 yards to the Jets’ 312.
Hammond’s two big plays were the only turnovers in a very entertaining game.
Job Richman finished the game 8 for 14 with 147 yards passing and the three second-half touchdowns.
Noah Dove led all players with 140 yards rushing. He had one score on the ground and two in the air.
Adams Central spread the ball around, with Roach, Thomas Laughlin, Vance Miller and Joey Everett all finishing between 50 and 70 yards rushing. Each of them found the end zone, with Laughlin scoring twice to lead the way.
Roach was 3 for 4 in the air for 75 yards and a TD pass to Everett.
Xander Schwartz led the Jets with ten tackles.
Hammond had eight tackles to go with his two big plays.
SCORING SUMMARY
Quarter 1
9:18 – AC – Reece Hammond 8-yard fumble return, Braylen Cowans PAT no good, 6-0
1:25- AC – Vance Miller 2-yd run, Cowans PAT no good, 12-0
Quarter 2
10:06 – AC – Thomas Laughlin 1-yd run, 2-PT try no good, 18-0
3:40 – AC – Joey Everett 14-yd catch from Jamison Roach, Cowans PAT good, 25-0
Quarter 3
8:28 – AC – Joey Everett 25-yd run, Cowans PAT good, 32-0
3:53 – E – Jake Warstler 19-yd catch from Job Richman, 2-PT try good (Richman run), 32-8
Quarter 4
11:34 – AC – Thomas Laughlin 4-yd run, Cowans PAT good, 39-8
8:16 – E – Noah Dove 19-yd catch from Job Richman, 2-PT try good (Richman run), 39-16
7:47 – E – Noah Dove 44-yd catch from Job Richman, 2-PT try good (Richman pass to Sam Pittman), 39-24
4:46 – AC – Jamison Roach 1-yd run, Cowans PAT good, 46-24
3:41 – AC – Reece Hammond 44-yd interception return, Cowans PAT good, 53-24
1:00 – AC – Noah Dove 2-yd run, 2-PT try good (Richman run), 53-32
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