With sights set on the big dance — the state finals — Lexington Catholic went rockin' and Bolin.
That would be Kyle Bolin, who ran for two touchdowns and passed for three Friday night to lead Catholic to a 41-14 victory over visiting West Jessamine in the second round of the Class 4A state football playoffs.
"Any win at this point in the season's a good win," Knights Coach Bill Letton said. "Played really well offensively in the first half; second half, a little bit sloppy. But we'll take it."
Catholic, which bested West 42-26 three weeks earlier, outgained the Colts 522 yards to 274.
The Knights (7-5) will face Boyle County in next week's quarterfinals.
"Always," Bolin, a sophomore, said when asked if he was excited to see the Rebels. "Biggest game of the year."
Bolin led Catholic to a 28-7 halftime lead.
Amoh Kumengisa's 2-yard TD run with 5:09 left in the third quarter put the lead at 34-7.
On the ensuing kickoff, Anthony Kersey forced a fumble and Chris Barkley recovered for Catholic on the West Jessamine 17.
Next play, Bolin hit Casey Nash in the back of the end zone for a 41-7 lead.
Bolin finished 17-for-25, good for 322 yards. He also ran 16 times for 99 yards and punted four times for an average of 31 yards. Much of his yardage came via shifty scrambles, either before uncorking a pass or running downfield himself.
"Coach actually works with me a lot about elusiveness in the pocket," he said. "We have a lot of drills that help me get away from the pressure."
The Knights capitalized on their first two possessions, each from 20 yards out, for a 14-0 lead through one quarter. Bolin passed to Adam Bush for the first score, then ran for the second.
Bush finished with four catches for 108 yards.
The Colts (8-4) broke through with 6:40 left in the half.
Three plays after hooking up with Will Knight on a 42-yard pass play, Matt Carbol found Romando Tatum in the flat for a 15-yard touchdown.
Tatum also scored West's second-half touchdown on a 2-yard run.
"I really salute my senior class," Colts Coach Graham Heasley said. "They're the best back-to-back program that West Jessamine has seen in wins. I marvel every day at what they've been able to do from their freshman year through their senior year."
Carbol completed 15 of 32 passes for 211 yards and ran 13 times for 65 yards. Knight caught five passes for 80 yards.
Tate Stidham led West in tackles with 10, while Casey LeBrun topped Catholic with 5.5.
Catholic came back from Tatum's first score with 38-yard TDs on its next two possessions — a pass from Bolin to Luke Fish, then a Bolin sprint down the West Jessamine sideline.
"We're getting better. We knew we head a young team and it may take a while, and it did take a while," Letton said. "But we continue to improve and we continue to work. The kids have gotten better and, as they've gotten better, the chemistry's gotten better."
Lexington Catholic 41, w. jessamine 14
West Jessamine 0 7 7 0—14
Lexington Catholic 14 14 13 0—41
LC—Adam Bush 20 pass from Kyle Bolin (Jake Pumphrey kick); LC—Bolin 20 run (Pumphrey kick); WJ—Romando Tatum 15 pass from Matt Carbol (Matt Hulsing kick); LC—Luke Fish 38 pass from Bolin (Pumphrey kick); LC—Bolin 38 run (Pumphrey kick); LC—Amoh Kumengisa 2 run (kick blocked); LC—Casey Nash 17 pass from Bolin (Pumphrey kick); WJ—Tatum 2 run (Hulsing kick).
