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Friday, Oct. 16, 2009

Mike Fields notebook: Change of fortune for Johnson Central football

If there's a chance of snow flurries in mid-October, does that mean they'll be shoveling a foot of the white stuff off the field for the state football finals in Bowling Green the first weekend of December?

■ Johnson Central knocked off previously unbeaten Ashland Blazer 29-28 last week for its third win in a row. The Golden Eagles deserve some good fortune after going through perhaps the roughest start in the state. Losing their first four games was only part of the story.

Coach Jim Matney's mother died two weeks before the season. The next week Matney's aunt died, and while he was at her funeral he learned that a woman who baby-sat him when he was a kid had also passed away. The week of Johnson Central's opener, defensive coordinator Glen Reeves' mother died. In the opener against Boyle County, Johnson Central running back Nathan Dillon, who rushed for 1,000 yards last year, suffered a broken hand that sidelined him for a few weeks. "It felt like the world was coming to an end," Matney said. "I tried to hang in there. I knew that if you keep the faith, sometimes things work out."

Matney's faith — or guts — allowed him to roll the dice against Ashland. With less than two minutes left and Johnson Central facing fourth-and-10, Matney drew up a play on the sidelines. Sophomore Ross Sanor came off the bench and threw a 13-yard TD pass to J.K. Hall, who had been playing quarterback. Trent Davis added the extra point. "My knees still knock when I think about it," Matney said of the winning play.

■ Besides Ashland, four other teams lost for the first time last week — Bullitt Central (to Anderson County), Butler (to St. Xavier), Central Hardin (to Nelson County) and Holmes (to Dixie Heights):

■ Corbin's Caleb Watkins had eight TDs and 451 all-purpose yards in an 85-34 rout of Knott Central. Only four players have scored more TDs in a game in state history: Don Gullett of McKell had 11 against Wurtland in 1968. Billy Bird of Corbin had 10 against Williamsburg in 1959. Herbie Phelps of Old Kentucky Home had 10 against Louisville Catholic Country Day in 1962. Monquantae Gibson of Moore had nine against Shawnee in 2001. Watkins rushed for 275 yards and five TDs, caught a 23-yard TD pass, and returned two kickoffs (75 and 78 yards) for scores.

■ Through Clark County's first six games, Coach Paul Columbia was mystified by his team's split personality. The Cards were great at home (beating Montgomery County, Lafayette and Corbin), but lousy on the road (losing to Bryan Station, Paul Dunbar and Scott County). "I knew we had the potential to be more consistent," Columbia said. "And I finally saw it last week." Clark County went on the road and upset Henry Clay. The Cards forced five turnovers, and had none themselves, in a 12-6 victory. QB Andrew Dini has improved his passing, especially in looking off his primary receiver. Darius Skinner has been solid on both sides of the ball. Linebackers Josh Webb and Daniel Schwendeman have keyed the defense. Despite being outscored by 50 points this year, Clark County is in contention to win the district title after upsetting favorite Henry Clay. The Cards have two district games left — Tates Creek this week and Madison Central next week.

■ It was a family affair when Harlan County beat district rival North Laurel in double overtime. Harlan County is coached by Tom Larkey. His son Chris is in his first season as North Laurel's coach, and son Dackery is a Jaguars' assistant. "The handshake before the game was kind of weird," Tom said. The victory felt odd, too. "It was the saddest win I ever had in my life because I felt sorry for Chris," Tom said. "I want him to do well." They've talked several times in recent days, and both agree it was a great game. "Couldn't have been better," Tom said. "It wasn't a case of me trying to beat him, or him trying to beat me. It was just both of us trying to help our team win." It was said to be the first dad vs. son football showdown since Maurice Dixon guided Hazard to a victory over his dad Bill's M.C. Napier team in 1992.