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Sunday, Oct. 11, 2009

Boyle Co. beats LexCath to stay perfect

DANVILLE — Boyle County football star Rees MacShara did a great impression of a circus performer Saturday night.

He looked like he had been shot out of a cannon the way he flew up and down the field in leading the undefeated Rebels to an early 18-point lead over Lexington Catholic.

The going got a lot tougher after that, but fourth-rated Boyle County's hard-nosed defense enabled it to hold on for a 21-13 victory over its Class 4A district rival.

"We came out ready and made some plays early, but (Lexington Catholic) adjusted and shut us down toward the end," MacShara said. "But our defense stepped up and made it possible for us to win."

MacShara provided an early spark on a chilly night.

The first time the 5-foot-9, 170-pound senior got his hands on the ball, he zipped 70 yards for a touchdown.

The third time he touched it, he took a lateral and zipped 65 yards for a score. (Statistically, it counted as a pass reception.)

The fifth time he got the ball he raced 73 yards for a TD, only to have it wiped out by a penalty.

No problem.

On his sixth touch of the game, MacShara sped 73 yards before being tripped up at the Lexington Catholic 1. Two plays later, quarterback Boone Goldsmith scored to put Boyle County up 21-3.

The Knights' defense did a solid job on MacShara the rest of the way, but he still finished with 347 all-purpose yards. He ran for 237 yards and a TD, had that 65-yard TD reception, and added 45 yards on kick returns.

"He sees the field extremely well, and he cuts and accelerates extremely well," Coach Larry French said. "He's a special player."

Lexington Catholic didn't let that 21-3 deficit get it down. It has been a comeback team all season.

Benton Hupman's 42-yard field goal pulled the Knights to within 21-6 at halftime.

With quarterback Nic Ward executing a short passing game effectively, the Knights put together a 72-yard, 13-play, six-minute drive that culminated with Ward's 1-yard quarterback sneak on the first play of the fourth quarter.

That made it 21-13.

Lexington Catholic got the ball one more time, taking over at its own 11 with 5:35 left. But Boyle County's defense stymied the Knights, locking them down at their own 36. The Rebels took over and ran out the clock to wrap up their 20th consecutive regular-season victory.

Stephen Campbell, Bryan Farrell, Chris Cook and Lamar Dawson led the Boyle County defense, which limited Lexington Catholic to just 19 yards rushing.

Ward completed 21 of 34 passes for 194 yards. Ryne Least had seven catches for 103 yards.

The Knights' defense, which blanked Boyle County the last 30 minutes, was led by Bill Jacoby, Nate Letton and Andrew Gathy.

Both coaches figure they'll see each other again in the playoffs next month.

"No doubt," French said.

Letton said he hopes there will be a rematch.

"I told our kids we've got to get better," he said. "We've got to make up eight points in six weeks."

Lexington Catholic 0 6 0 7—13

Boyle County 14 7 0 0—21

BC—Rees MacShara 70 run (Phillip Barsotti). BC—MacShara 65 pass from Boone Goldsmith (Barsotti kick). LC—Benton Hupman 23 field goal. BC—Goldsmith 1 run (Barsotti kick). LC—Hupman 42 field goal. LC—Nic Ward 1 run (Hupman kick).

Records: LexCath 4-3; Boyle County 7-0.