Garrard County Looks to Continue Winning Streak Against East Jessamine
Garrard County's football team heads into this Friday’s matchup against East Jessamine with hopes of breaking their road-game losing streak. The Golden Lions, holding a 5-1 lead in the overall series against East Jessamine, are seeking their third win in five contests this season. While Garrard has found success at home, they have struggled on the road, losing both away games this year and three consecutive road games dating back to last season.
Historically, Garrard County has enjoyed significant success in road games. Their longest road winning streak spanned 10 games across the 1992 and 1993 seasons. The team has managed to string together five or more consecutive road victories nine times in its history, with the most recent streak of six wins occurring during the 2014 and 2015 seasons. As they prepare to face East Jessamine in Nicholasville, the Golden Lions will aim to reclaim some of that away-game dominance.
Garrard County has been dominant in recent meetings with East Jessamine, winning five straight games, including a thrilling 27-23 victory last season during their homecoming. In that matchup, quarterback Justin Parsons threw for 115 yards and two touchdowns, connecting with Cam Peak and Hayden Elleman to secure the win. The Lions will be looking to continue their success against the Jaguars in this upcoming game.
In previous trips to Nicholasville, Garrard County has managed to edge out victories. Their 2016 visit saw them pull away for a 34-22 win on a stormy night, thanks in large part to Jacob Foley's impressive performance, which included 196 rushing yards and three touchdowns. In 2018, the two teams met again in a closely contested battle, where a late-game interception by Willie Rader sealed a 34-31 win for Garrard. Christian Hansford and Jacob Hacker each ran for two touchdowns, while Trace Poynter had a standout game with 120 receiving yards and a touchdown.
East Jessamine, which opened in 1997 following the split of Jessamine County High School, has only met Garrard County on a limited number of occasions. Despite their short history, East Jessamine has become an important regional rival for the Golden Lions. Garrard County has a longer and more storied rivalry with West Jessamine, a subject that will be explored further in upcoming reports.
The legacy of football in the region extends back to the days of Nicholasville and Lancaster High Schools, which competed fiercely until Nicholasville High School closed following the consolidation that led to the formation of Jessamine County High. Lancaster's last victory in that old rivalry came in 1956, with Hugh McCulley leading the Green Devils to a commanding 34-6 win over the Tarantulas of Nicholasville, ending a memorable chapter in local football history.
As Garrard County prepares for their latest challenge on the road, they will be hoping to add another victory to their already strong record against East Jessamine and break their current road-losing streak. The Golden Lions are keen to return to the kind of away-game success that has defined the team in past seasons.
(Historical information provided by Daniel Hopkins)