Six offensive snaps, four touchdowns! That is exactly what took place this past Friday night as the Goshen Eagles completely dismantled the Highland Home Flying Squadron 53-20, as they nailed down a spot in the AHSAA Class 2A playoffs with this key Region 3 victory.

The rain-soaked Clay-Jordan Stadium crowd saw the Eagles revenge last year’s heartbreaking 50-to-46 loss at the hands of the Flying Squadron behind the running of Sophomore back Tavarius Jackson, who had 244 yards on five carries and four touchdowns, to lead the Eagles.

After receiving the opening kickoff to get the game underway, Eagle QB Ty Wingard got the scoring onslaught started with an 80-yard touchdown run on the first play from scrimmage, to put the visiting team up 7-to-0 with just 23 seconds off the clock.

On Highland Home’s first possession of the game, the Eagle defense forced a Squadron punt after three plays netted only four yards of offense. After a 34-yard Tyler McGough punt, the Eagles set up first and ten at their own 40-yard line. This time around, it took the boys from Pike County only two plays to hit Squadron pay dirt, as Tavarius Jackson rambled 57 yards for his first touchdown of the game to put the Eagles up 14-to-0 with 9:04 left in the first quarter.

Trailing by two touchdowns, the Squadron got in on the scoring action as they drove 60 yards in 5 plays, as Freshman running back Aaron McKenzie bolted 50 yards for the score with 7:50 showing on the clock.

Only up 14-to-6 over the Squadron, Jackson notched his second touchdown of the game on a nice 51-yard run right up the middle of the blue clad Squadron “D” to cap off the one play drive. This time the Eagle PAT kick was no good, as the Eagles lead was 20-to-6 with 7:25 left in the first quarter.

Goshen got their 4th touchdown and Jackson’s third score of the quarter on a two-play, 79-yard drive that saw Jackson cover the final 77 yards untouched down the right side of the Flyboys’ “D”. The PAT two-point pass from QB Wingard to wide-out Keon Woods was true to give the Eagles a 28-to-6 lead with 1:59 left.

Once again, the Squadron offensive 11 cut into the Eagle lead with 35 seconds left in the quarter when QB Tyler McGough hit wide-out Javarius Means on a beautiful 56-yard touchdown toss, as the scoreboard stood Goshen 28, Highland Home 12, as the quarter came to a close.

On the Eagles’ next sequel of plays to start the second quarter, the combination of Wingard and Woods hooked up again, this time on a 15-yard scoring strike that capped off a 5-play, 42-yard drive with 9:56 to go before half-time.

Leading 34-to-12, Eagle QB Wingard got his name in the scoring column once again, this time on a 3-yard keeper around right end to close out the first half scoring as the Eagles went into the locker room leading 40-to-12.

After the North Crenshaw County Squadron received the kickoff to start the second half, the turnover bug stepped up and bit them on their first offensive series of plays. That’s when Eagle defensive back Prince Gordon picked off a Tyler McGough pass at the Eagle 43-yard line as they set up shop at that point.

It took the Eagle offensive unit only one play to go the distance as Tavarius Jackson outraced the Squadron 57 yards for his fourth and final score of the game with 10:42 still to play in the third quarter. Once again, the Eagle PAT of two points was no good, as they increased their lead to 46-to-12.

Highland Home’s vaulted Notre Dame box offense seemed to get on track as they drove down to the Eagle 24-yard line, but a 4th down pass fell harmlessly to the ground in the back of the Eagle end zone to stop the drive.

On the Eagles’ next cluster of offensive plays, the Squadron defense put a halt on the Eagle wing-T to force their first punt of the game with 1:25 showing on the third quarter clock.

After a 52-yard return by return man Chris Wasden, the Flyboys had a first and ten at the Eagle 25-yard line. With 32 seconds showing on the clock, the Squadron got their third and final touchdown of the game on a 4-yard run by Wasden. The big play on the short-lived drive was a 21-yard pass from McGough to Wasden. The Squadron PAT 2-point play was true as McGough hit Means on a 2-yard pass.

With the score Highland Home 20, Goshen 46, the Eagles closed out the scoring for the game with 7:16 left as Eagle Marcus Coleman hit the Squadron end zone from 5 yards out. This time the Eagle PAT kick was true, as Goshen walked away with a 53-20 victory over the Flying Squadron.

This will be homecoming week on the Highland Home campus, as the Squadron stay in Region 3 play as they host the Zion Chapel Rebels.

Kickoff is set for 7:00 p.m. this Friday night at Clay-Jordan Stadium.