MANCHESTER — The good news for the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets is that the toughest part of the schedule is now behind them. The bad news is that they’re 1-4 after Friday’s 46-22 loss to Johnson Central in the Appalachian Bowl at Clay County.

The 5-A Golden Eagles have had a disappointing season to this point themselves with a tough early schedule helping them to an 0-4 start. They righted the ship Friday, using their superior size up front to wear down the Jackets and pull away in the second half.

Johnson Central rolled up 555 yards of total offense, including 531 on the ground, and made Middlesboro pay for three key turnovers to take control of the game.

Things started out just fine for the Jackets as they were competive with larger school for the third time this year before fading late. Their first possession started at the Eagle 20 after a bad snap on a punt.

Jacket quarterback Chase Roark passed to Matt Powers for 11 yards and Cody Foister ran for seven down to the two yard line.

A defensive offsides penalty gave Middlesboro a first-and-goal at the one and Roark ran it in. Patrick Knuckles’ extra point quickly made it 7-0.

Johnson Central was driving on their next possession when MHS sophomore Thomas Epperson leapt in front of J.J. Jude to intercept a J.K. Hall pass at around the Jacket 30.

He picked up a couple blocks as he turned up field along the right sideline took it 68 yards for a touchdown. With 4:51 to play in the first quarter Middlesboro led it 14-0.

The Eagles answered with a nine-play, 80-yard drive that Jude capped with a 38-yard TD run to cut the MHS lead to 14-7.

After Middlesboro went 3-and-out, Johnson Central fullback Tanner Bratton sprang free for a 58-yard run to the Jacket 12. Four plays and a MHS offsides penalty later Hall scored on a quarterback sneak. He added the two-point conversion to put Johnson Central on top 15-14 with 7:58 to play in the half.

It was still 15-14 with 1:39 to play when Middlesboro took possession around their own 30. Roark’s shuttle pass got away from Foister and Eagle lineman Matt King picked it off and brought it back to the 22.

Trent Davis kicked a 25-yard field goal on the final play of the half to put Johnson Central on top 18-14.

After holding the Jackets to start the third quarter, the Eagles needed just one play to score again as Bratton went 76 yards for a touchdown. The Jackets blocked the extra point so they trailed just 24-14.

But on Middlesboro next offensive play Roark was intercepted by Ross Sanor who returned it 35 yards for a touchdown. They ran in the two-point conversion to stretch the lead to 32-14.

The Jackets drove down the field with Roark passing to Barton Poore for gains of 14 and then 52 yards. He passed to Powers for 10 and Cody Foister ran for 12 down to the one.

A Johnson Central offsides penalty put the ball near the goal line and Roark tried to sneak it in, but fumbled and the Eagles recovered in their own end zone.

Hall went 80 yards on the very next play to put the game out of reach at 39-14 with 5:40 still to play in the 3rd quarter.

It was more of the same the rest of the way. Roark hooked up with Epperson for a 38-yard gain down to the 11. But the Jackets turned the ball over on downs and two plays later Hall went 88 yards for another TD.

Poore hauled in an 83-yard TD pass from Roark to set the final score at 46-22.

Hall led all rushers with 232 yards on 20 carries and Bratton added 164 yards on nine rushes.

Foister led the Middlesboro ground game with 57 yards on ten carries. Roark was 10-of-21 passing for 214 yards, one touchdown and two interceptions.

Poore led the Middlesboro receivers with four catches for 160 yards and the TD.

Jon Mikel Evans led the Jacket defense with ten tackles and Dalton Hughett added nine.

Middlesboro (1-4) hosts 1-A Frankfort next Friday, then has a bye before starting district play.

Johnson Central (1-4) plays at Breathitt County next week.