Joe Jones racked up 69 yards and a touchdown as Great Bridge stayed undefeated by defeating host Lakeland 21-6 in junior varsity high school football competition Thursday evening. After the teams combined for only four first downs in a scoreless first half, the Wildcats exploded for three touchdowns in the second.

The Cavalier (1-3) defense held off the Wildcat offense throughout the first half, but Lakeland’s offense was unable to mount any momentum. Aston Williams scooped up a Wildcat fumble at the Great Bridge 31 on the second play from scrimmage, but Lakeland managed only six yards over the next four plays, and a fourth-down pass fell incomplete.

The Cavalier defense held, and Lakeland got the ball back at their own 21. Williams and Jeff Cook rumbled to the 34 for the team’s first first down, but the drive stalled four plays later, and the Wildcats got the ball back.

Neither team threatened for the remainder of the half, and Lakeland found itself facing a fourth-and-16 at their own 14 on the opening drive. The Cavaliers punted, and Britton Hawkins returned it to the Lakeland 35.

At this point, Jones took over. He blasted the Lakeland defense for 32 yards over the next three plays, moving the Wildcats all the way to the one. Donny Kirby leaped through the line, and Great Bridge had a 6-0 lead.

The Great Bridge defense sacked quarterback Alex King on fourth down, and took over at the Lakeland 38. Trevor Bray ran them to the 19, and he, Cook, and Zema Bivins gave the Wildcats a first down at the Cavalier seven.

Cook ran through the left side of the line for five yards on first down, but he and Kirby managed only a single yard on the next two plays. But on fourth down, Cook burst through the center of the line for the touchdown. Kirby hit Brad Costello on the conversion, and Great Bridge was ahead by two touchdowns.

Once again, the Cavaliers were unable to gain a first down, but the Wildcat offense didn’t have to take the field this time. Hawkins broke down the right sideline for a 43-yard touchdown on the punt return.

On the next drive, the Lakeland offense finally started clicking. Alvin Morris scurried 14 yards to his team’s 33 for their first first down of the second half, and King hit him with a 27-yard strike on the next play. Two plays later, King tossed an option pass to Cook, who completed the game’s longest pass with a 40-yard line to Morris, who fought off two tacklers to score Lakeland’s only touchdown.

The Cavaliers will host Western Branch next Thursday.