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Saturday, Oct. 10, 2009

Scott Co. runs past Bryan Station

Scott County's defense couldn't do much to slow Bryan Station's Tevin McCaden, the state's leading rusher, Friday night.

But the Cardinals had a solution: they unleashed four of their own talented backs to counter the marvelous McCaden as No. 15 Scott County pulled out a 37-25 win.

Josh Walls (117 yards, two touchdowns), Brooks Barber (108 yards, one TD), Marcus Hill (73 yards, one TD) and Steven Travis (42 yards) helped Scott County pile up 338 yards on the ground and beat the Defenders for the eighth time in a row.

"They shared the wealth," Coach Jim McKee said. "It doesn't matter to me who carries the ball ... the only thing that matters to me is in the end, and if our team played its very best."

McCaden ran 23 times for 252 yards — the sixth time in seven games he has eclipsed 200 yards — and three TDs.

He pushed his season rushing totals to 1,672 yards and 20 TDs. But it wasn't enough because No. 20 Bryan Station's defense couldn't figure out the Cards' option offense.

"If you score 25 points, you're supposed to win the game if your defense is playing like it should," Defenders Coach Oliver Lucas said. "That was the most disappointing thing."

It was Bryan Station's second loss in a row after starting the season 5-0.

"We got outplayed and out-coached," Lucas said. "I take full responsibility for it."

Scott County gave an early indication what was to come. Its option offense chewed up huge chunks of yards as it scored touchdowns on its first three possessions.

"Sometimes what we do with the ball, with our deception, we're able to take away the aggressiveness of the other team," McKee said.

Walls and Hill are quick and fast; Barber and Travis are more power.

That's a potent mix.

"We're all equal," Barber said, "so we all share. We don't care who runs it as long as we win."

Bryan Station used its speed to break off some long runs, much like Henry Clay did when it beat Scott County.

After Scott County took a 24-13 lead on Jay Willmott's booming 47-yard field goal midway through the third quarter, the Defenders struck.

First, McCaden burst free for a 74-yard TD run. Two minutes later, Chaz Mitchell, a cousin of Olympic sprinter Tyson Gay, streaked 89 yards for a score to give Bryan Station a 25-24 lead.

"We knew they had great quick-strike ability," McKee said. "And they struck us a bunch."

But Scott County wasn't rattled. It stuck to its game plan and kept running through and around the Defenders.

The Cards drove 85 yards in nine plays to regain the lead on Hill's 4-yard scoring run.

Bryan Station lost a fumble on its next possession, and Scott County capitalized. It drove 52 yards and sealed it with Tevin Buffin's quarterback sneak for a score.

The victory gave Scott County a 1-0 record in its Class 6A district, and McKee was delighted with the way the Cardinals did it.

"Being behind on the road against a very talented team, and coming back to win, that means a lot," he said.

Scott County 14 7 3 13 —37

Bryan Station 13 0 12 0—25

SC—Josh Walls 6 run (Jay Willmott kick). BS—Tevin McCaden 2 run (Jose Marin kick). SC—Brooks Barber 5 run (Willmott kick). BS—McCaden 5 run (kick failed). SC—Walls 9 run (Willmott kick). SC—Willmott 47 field goal. BS—McCaden 74 run (pass failed). BS—Chaz Mitchell 89 run . SC—Marcus Hill 4 run (Willmott kick). SC—Tevin Buffin 1 run (pass failed)

Records—Scott County 6-1; Bryan Station 5-2.