JACKSON, Tenn. — The undefeated Mustangs proved themselves on the road Friday night in their first away game of the season, devastating Jackson Central-Merry 37-0.
In the first half, Huntingdon scored on four of five possessions to build a 28-0 lead over JCM by the break.
After forcing a punt on JCM’s opening drive, the Mustangs capitalized immediately. Kenton Smith found Zayden Connelly for a touchdown, and Grayson Anderson’s PAT made it 7-0 with 1:47 left in the first quarter.
Huntingdon’s defense then recovered a JCM fumble on the next kickoff at the Cougars’ 9, and Smith punched it in himself to make it 14-0 heading into the second quarter.
JCM’s miscues continued into the second quarter.
A quarterback fumble handed Huntingdon the ball at the JCM 21, and Smith capped the drive with a short touchdown run, pushing the lead to 21-0.
After a stop by the Mustangs’ defense highlighted by a pass breakup from K’Shun Carter, the Mustangs drove the field again, overcoming a penalty and a stuffed run at the 5 before Hayes Eubanks scored from the 1.5-yard line to make it 28-0 with six minutes left in the half.
A Bryson Whiteside sack helped force another JCM punt, but Huntingdon’s final drive of the half stalled near midfield after an offensive pass interference penalty wiped out a deep completion to Keimonte Strayhorn.
The Mustangs punted, and JCM took over with just 12 seconds left before halftime.
After the break, JCM’s opening drive showed some life.
The Cougars moved the ball into Huntingdon territory with a mix of runs and passes, including a desperation completion by JCM quarterback Jimarious Douglas while being tackled for a loss.
The Cougars’ drive ultimately stalled in the red zone, and Keimonte Strayhorn sacked Douglas on fourth down to turn the ball over on downs at the 15.
Huntingdon’s following possession carried into the fourth quarter, mixing runs from Colt Wood and K’Shun Carter with a fourth-down conversion on a direct snap to Hayes Eubanks. The drive stalled near midfield, but the Mustangs soon got the ball back in JCM territory and eventually punched it in on a short Eubanks touchdown run, making it 35-0.
Huntingdon’s defense added to the lead shortly after, when Kaden King sacked Douglas in the end zone for a safety, pushing the score to 37-0 with 4:14 remaining and the clock running.
Huntingdon ran out the final minutes behind Zayden Connelly’s kickoff return and short-yardage runs before kneeling out the clock.
Final: Huntingdon 37, JCM 0.
The Mustangs are now 5-0 for the season and 3-0 in the region. They return to Paul Ward Stadium next Friday for more region action against Gibson County.