Mike Fields notebook: Nov. 13

Mike Fields - Herald-Leader Staff Writer

Allen Central gives Floyd County two top teams this year

Prestonsburg is the big football story in Floyd County this season. Led by quarterback Michael Burchett, the Blackcats are undefeated and looking like state title contenders heading into the second round of the Class 2A playoffs Friday night.

But another Floyd County team is making news, too, not to mention a little bit of history. Allen Central, which suffered through 17 consecutive losing seasons before going 7-4 last year, is 10-1 after beating Pineville 60-34 last week. It was the Rebels' first home playoff game and first playoff victory.

"It means a lot, not just for this team, but for a lot of guys who played here over the years, including myself," said Coach Jeremy Hall, a 1994 Allen Central graduate.

Hall thought the Rebels had a chance to be pretty good this year, but they've exceeded expectations by setting a school record for victories and advancing in the 1A playoffs. They've done it with old-fashioned smash-mouth football. They have three 1,000-yards rushers in Logan Crowder (1,511 yards, 20 TDs), his twin brother, Hunter Crowder (1,211 yards, 14 TDs), and Justin Jackson (1,288 yards, 14 TDs).

Hunter is 6-foot-4, 280 pounds. Logan is 6-2, 255. "They both move crazy fast to be that big," Hall said. Jackson is 5-8, 145.

Allen Central's regular-season accomplishments include beating Paintsville for the first time in school history, and avenging a 46-6 playoff loss to Harlan. The Rebels will be a decided underdog when they visit Hazard, last year's state runner-up, Friday night. That's fine with Hall. "Very few people expect us to beat Hazard, so we have nothing to lose," he said.

■ Pike Central won a playoff game for the first time in its program's 17-year history by beating Fleming County 74-50 (not 78-50 as previously reported). Hawks Coach John Paul Chapman doesn't keep statistics, but Fleming County Coach Gene Peterson said Pike Central senior QB Aaron McGuire, whom he described as "one tough kid," passed for 279 yards and eight TDs.

■ First-round playoff games are low stress for a lot of teams, even if they're missing a star or two. Lexington Christian was without QB Lucas Witt (bruised knee, thigh), but the Eagles still bashed Berea 70-31. Bryan Station was without RB Tevin McCaden (bad ankle), but the Defenders still dumped Madison Central 42-0. Corbin was without its top two RBs, Caleb Watkins (turf toe) and Ryan Fritts (sick), but the Redhounds still beat Morgan County 40-6.

■ Shelby County has made quite a turnaround. after winning only once last season, the Rockets are 9-2 going into Friday's game at Trinity. QB Branden Cresap, who missed most of last season with a knee injury, has thrown for more than 2,000 yards. Shelby County is 0-7 against Trinity.

■ Austin Collinsworth, whose dad Cris played for the Cincinnati Bengals and grandfather Abraham played basketball for UK, isn't the only Highlands football player with sports in his blood. Patrick Towles, who's taken over the starting QB job for the Bluebirds, is the grandson of baseball Hall of Fame pitcher (and U.S. senator) Jim Bunning. Towles, a 6-5 sophomore, has thrown for 678 yards and six TDs since replacing Will Bardo, who was sidelined with an elbow injury. Bardo has since moved to running back. Highlands is rated ninth in the nation by USA Today.

■ Conner QB Nick West did all he could — passing for 447 yards and three TDs — but it wasn't enough as Manual beat the Cougars 50-39 in a 6A playoff game. For the season, West threw for 2,602 yards and 22 TDs, and rushed for 1,068 yards and 20 TDs. Over the last three years he passed for 6,453 yards and 59 TDs.

■ Doss had the best comeback in the first round of the playoffs. The Dragons trailed Anderson County by 21 points early in the fourth quarter before rallying to win 40-37. Donald Bethel scored the decisive TD on a 36-yard run with 2:11 left. The loss ended senior Jacob Russell's days as Anderson County's QB. In his career, he passed for 6,733 yards and 65 TDs and ran for 923 yards and 38 TDs. He will now switch over to basketball for the defending 8th Region champs.