Mustang Offense Sharp in Jamboree Action with Lexington

HUNTINGDON (August 14) — Huntingdon High School seniors Kenton Smith and Zayden Connelly delivered a dominant performance Friday night, leading the Huntingdon Mustangs to a convincing 22-0 shutout of Lexington in the annual Huntingdon QB Jamboree. Smith, the reigning BlueCross Bowl MVP who helped secure the Mustangs’ second state title last season, showcased his versatility with 64 rushing yards and two passing touchdowns. Connelly was equally effective, contributing a 67-yard rushing effort, a receiving touchdown, and a defensive safety.

Hosted at Paul Ward Stadium, the Jamboree is a rotating tradition between the two programs. The evening featured a developmental slate with 15-minute quarters for the freshman and junior varsity squads, followed by two 12-minute quarters of varsity action.

The Mustang varsity took control early, orchestrating a 70-yard, 11-play opening drive. While the first ten plays relied on the ground game, Smith turned to the air after a second-down sack at the Tigers’ 36-yard line. On third down, he connected with Keimonte Strayhorn on a 36-yard touchdown strike. A fumbled snap on the extra point kept the score at 6-0.

Huntingdon’s offense remained aggressive on their next possession. Starting from their own 20, the Mustangs quickly advanced to the 40 before K’Shun Carter broke loose for a 42-yard sprint to the Lexington 8-yard line. Two plays later, Smith found Connelly for a 5-yard touchdown reception. Greyson Anderson’s successful PAT extended the lead to 13-0.

Defensive pressure soon added to the tally. After forcing a turnover on downs, Huntingdon took over at the Tigers’ 15-yard line. Though a Smith fumble near the goal line gave Lexington a temporary reprieve, Connelly immediately swarmed the Tigers’ ball carrier in the end zone on the following play for a safety, pushing the lead to 15-0.

The Mustangs punctuated the night with a two-play drive, capped by Connelly’s explosive 54-yard touchdown run. Anderson’s final conversion sealed the 22-0 victory. Statistically, the Mustangs overwhelmed the Tigers, outgaining them 190 to -11 on the ground while holding a 41 to 40 edge in passing yards.

In undercard action, the Lexington freshman team topped the Mustangs 14-0. The Tigers utilized rushing scores of three and nine yards to capitalize on an offensive struggle for Huntingdon, which was limited to 16 yards on ten carries. Noah Webb provided a bright spot for the Mustangs with 20 rushing yards.

The Junior Varsity scrimmage also went to the Tigers in a narrow 6-0 contest. Jonah Ralston caught a 22-yard touchdown pass for the game’s only score. Despite the loss, the Mustangs showed promise in the air as Noah Webb completed two passes for 44 yards, including a 28-yard gain to Kingston Smith and a 16-yard reception by Hayden Weathers. Huntingdon reached the Lexington 21-yard line late in the period, but a fourth-down incompletion ended the threat.