JACKSONVILLE – Watson Chapel had a rough conclusion to its season Thursday evening in Jacksonville.
The Wildcats never led, falling 60-28 to the Titans. Watson Chapel ended its 2025 campaign without a victory (0-10, 0-7 in 5A-Central).
The Wildcats fell behind on the first play of the game and never recovered. Jacksonville’s Kayden Burris took the opening kickoff and returned 73 yards for a touchdown. Following the point after, the Titans led 7-0. Jacksonville (4-6, 2-5), which won its second straight, quickly regained possession when they recovered an onside kick at the Watson Chapel 35. Moments later, with 11:12 left in the first quarter, Jaylon Foster completed a pass to Keyshawn Glenn, who easily outran the Wildcat defense on his way to a 35-yard touchdown pass. Following the failed two-point attempt, Jacksonville led 13-0.
After the Wildcats were unable to move the ball, they had to punt. Once again, the Jacksonville special teams shined brightly as Matthew Goldsberry returned the punt 76 yards for a touchdown. The kick increased the Titans’ lead to 20-0 with 9:10 remaining in the opening period. Watson Chapel, with its next possession, fumbled the ball and Jacksonville recovered. Soon after, running back Mason Ball took a handoff, found the edge of the Watson Chapel front seven and raced 18 yards for a touchdown. After the kick, the Titan lead was 27-0 with 5:43 left in the opening quarter. Later in the first, Watson Chapel fell further behind thanks to a 3-yard touchdown run by Ball. Following the point after, Jacksonville led 34-0.
However, the Wildcats continued to battle and with 11:53 left in the second period, they got on the board when Malachi Rayford completed an 8-yard touchdown pass to Jayden Handley. The receiver caught the touchdown pass near the side of the end zone. The two-point attempt was no good as the score remained 34-6.
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Eventually, with 7:17 left in the first half, Jacksonville added to its lead when Burris took a pitch and sprinted to the end zone on his way to a 26-yard touchdown. The kick increased the Titan lead to 41-6. But Watson Chapel continued to compete as Jakaylon Murphy scored on a 3-yard carry. The Wildcats’ two-point attempt was stopped short of the goal line as the score remained 41-12.
Jacksonville later added to its advantage when Ball took a handoff and used a blend of power and speed to make his way into the end zone for a 29-yard touchdown. A botched snap on the point after left the score at 47-12. The Titans scored the final points of the first half when Goldsberry caught a 49-yard touchdown pass from Foster. On the play, Goldsberry beat the Watson Chapel defensive back and hauled in the pass before he ran nearly untouched on his way to the end zone. With 51 seconds left in the second quarter, Jacksonville now led 53-12. In the second half, this game was played with mercy rule in effect. Late in the third, Goldsberry helped Jacksonville add to its lead when he returned a punt 48 yards for a touchdown. The kick increased the Titan advantage to 60-12. With 8:12 left in the fourth period, Trendell Willis took a handoff and pushed his way into the end zone from 1-yard out. On the two-point attempt, Rayford easily ran into the end zone making the score 60-20. Moments later, after recovering a Jacksonville fumble, Watson Chapel had the ball in great field position.
The Wildcats took advantage of the situation when running back Dequan Lawrence found a gap in the Jacksonville defense and exploded up the field for a 37-yard run. Rayford crossed the goal line on the two-point run to make the score 60-28 with 4:01 left to play.