With the clock winding down late in the fourth quarter, St. Paul’s responded to JC’s 21-14 lead with a touchdown and a two-point conversion, just as they did two years ago in the MIAA B Conference Championship game against JC.

The varsity football team took on the St. Paul’s Crusaders Oct. 3 2014 at 3:00 p.m. at St. Paul’s. The final score was 22-21.

“Luck has always been with St. Paul’s,” junior and starting varsity quarterback Kurt Rawlings said, who played for St.Paul’s before he transferred to JC this year.

In the past three years, JC has played St. Paul’s five times: four during the season and once in the B Conference Championship game two years ago. St. Paul’s beat Curley in the championships in 2013, where again, according to Rawlings, luck was on their side.

Throughout the game, the score was close, and JC was holding its own against the defending champions. The score was tied 14-14 at the half.

“Our defensive line did a great job. I think they had 10 sacks. Great job in getting to the quarterback,” varsity football coach Keith Rawlings said.

However, according to Rawlings, JC was taken by surprise in the second half.

“They threw a different defense at us in the second half. It sort of surprised us,” Rawlings said.

JC was up 21-14 late in the fourth quarter after Kurt Rawlings’ second touchdown run of the day. However, JC couldn’t hold off.

The loss was especially disappointing for the JC seniors on varsity football who have never beaten St. Paul’s, and for Rawlings who transferred to JC this year from St. Paul’s.

“The losses from my previous seasons against St. Paul’s don’t mean much to me anymore, but this loss definitely hurts,” senior varsity outside linebacker and a four-year varsity starter Luke Rinehart said.

However, Rinehart and his teammates may be given the opportunity to play St. Paul’s again in the championship if both teams win their remaining games.

Looking ahead to the possibility of playing them again in the championship, Coach Rawlings said he’s expecting a “very similar game, but we should have at least two touchdowns over them.”

“I’m focused on winning [the rest of the season] now, and maybe we’ll see St. Paul’s again on Nov. 8,” Rinehart said. “That game will be a different outcome though. All these losses against them will just make me want to win even more.”

Claire Grunewald is a Lifestyles Editor for The Patriot and jcpatriot.com.