Highlights: LexCath win sets up rematch with Boyle; Bryan Station, Franklin Co. roll
Highlights from first-round games Friday night in the Kentucky high school football playoffs:
Lexington Catholic 33, Bourbon County 19: The Knights raced out to a 21-0 lead in the first quarter at home, using 237 passing yards from senior quarterback Jack Gohmann to top Bourbon County in the first round of the Class 4A state playoffs. Gohmann threw for a touchdown and ran for a 57-yard score in the victory. The game began with an 89-yard kickoff return touchdown by LexCath sophomore Sam Clements.
Bourbon County junior quarterback Clay Estes powered the Colonels offensively with 336 passing yards, although he also threw two interceptions. LexCath will play Boyle County next week in the second round. Earlier this season, on Oct. 8, Boyle County defeated LexCath, 16-10.
Other Class 4A highlights
Franklin County 46, North Oldham 0: The Flyers’ Kentucky commit, Kaden Moorman, scored three TDs in the first half, including a 29-yard catch that the North Oldham (4-7) defender looked to have picked off before bobbling into Moorman’s hands as he hit the turf.
The pass came on a double-reverse option to Zach Claudio who lofted the ball into the end zone. Franklin County (8-3) established a 36-0 running clock lead midway through the second quarter and also got TDs from Braedyn Tracy and Christian Moore.
Class 6A
Paul Laurence Dunbar 21, Lafayette 19: Cole Colony had TDs throwing and running for the Bulldogs (6-5), who turned back Lafayette’s upset with a two-point conversion stop and an interception in the fourth quarter.
Kamarion Robinson scored from 10 yards out to give Dunbar a 21-13 lead late in the third quarter. Lafayette (2-9) answered with Dez Hanley’s 19-yard score to cut the margin to 21-19 early in the fourth quarter, but Tanner Pace’s conversion pass fell incomplete. Dunbar had blocked a Lafayette extra point earlier.
Manning Baker got an interception on Lafayette’s final drive to end the threat.
Tates Creek 33, Henry Clay 15: Tates Creek led 27-0 at home behind a pair of touchdown passes by sophomore quarterback Andrew Witherington and didn’t allow points defensively until there were nine minutes left in the game in an opening-round Class 6A state playoff win over Henry Clay. The Commodores gained more than 450 yards of total offense in the win, and they also scored 14 points off turnovers.
Witherington had 253 passing yards and sophomore Marquevion Smith had 116 rushing yards to lead Tates Creek, while Henry Clay junior quarterback Blake Van Horn had two touchdown passes himself. Tates Creek will play Paul Laurence Dunbar next week in the second round. Earlier this season, on Oct. 7, Dunbar defeated Tates Creek, 35-26.
Bryan Station 45, Clark County 0: Juniors Damin Green and Jeremiah Mundy-Lloyd each scored two touchdowns and Bryan Station allowed just 70 offensive yards in an opening-round shutout of Clark County in the Class 6A state playoffs. Both of Mundy-Lloyd’s scores came on the ground, while Green had a rushing score and was credited with a fumble-recovery touchdown.
Senior running back Joseph Bond had 124 rushing yards in the win for the Defenders, who had more than 200 rushing yards as a team. Bryan Station will play Madison Central next week in the second round. Earlier this season, on Oct. 22, Bryan Station defeated Madison Central, 21-13.
Madison Central 42, Oldham County 9: Madison Central opened its postseason campaign with a home win.
Sophomore Brady Hensley had 168 rushing yards and three touchdowns, while junior quarterback Hagan Harrison completed six passes for 156 yards and two touchdowns through the air for Madison Central.
Senior Jeffrey Kinley had a fumble recovery touchdown for Madison Central as well.
Class 5A
Woodford County 36, Madison Southern 7: Woodford County led 21-0 at halftime and cruised to victory. The Yellow Jackets are now 11-0, tying the 1969 and 1981 Woodford County teams for the school-record win total of 11.
Preston Stacy and Bryce Patterson were among the Yellow Jackets with rushing touchdowns.
The lone Madison Southern touchdown came on the ground from sophomore Stephen Whitehead. Junior DeBrince Johnson had an interception for the Yellow Jackets.
Woodford County will play West Jessamine next week. Earlier this season Woodford County defeated West Jessamine, 60-14, on Oct. 1.
Southwestern 41, Whitley County 6: Southwestern won its seventh straight game with a comprehensive opening-round performance.
Senior Dylan Bland scored three touchdowns for Southwestern and sophomore quarterback Collin Burton had two passing scores.
Southwestern recorded more than 400 yards of total offense, including a 41-yard touchdown pass from Burton to junior Mason Hibbard less than a minute into the game.
Next week, Southwestern will host Pulaski County. Earlier this season, on Oct. 22, Southwestern defeated Pulaski County, 42-14.
Pulaski County 40, North Laurel 14: Chandler Godby had 221 yards receiving and four touchdowns from quarterback Drew Polston as the Maroons (7-4) dominated from the outset. Aiden Wesley and Braden Gipson also scored.
Covington Catholic 34, Highlands 8: Preston Agee rushed for 144 yards and three TDs and the Colonels (8-3) also got 154 yards rushing and a TD from Reid Hummel as they routed the Bluebirds (5-6).
CovCath built a 24-0 lead before Highlands got a TD pass from Cameron Bottom to Matteo Matteoli in the fourth quarter. Adam Holtz also scored for CovCath.
Next up for CovCath is a date with Conner, a matchup the Colonels won 27-7 on Oct. 22.
Bowling Green 24, Greenwood 10: The defending Class 5A state champs began their title defense with a home victory.
The Purples led 17-0 at halftime behind a 15-yard touchdown pass from freshman Deuce Bailey to junior Bert Kibawa and a 13-yard TD pass from Bailey to sophomore Easton Barlow. Bailey finished the game with three touchdown passes.
Greenwood’s second-half comeback attempt included a 13-yard touchdown reception by senior Marquese Trussell.
Next week, Bowling Green will travel to play South Warren. Earlier this season, on Oct. 1, South Warren defeated Bowling Green, 36-7.
Class 3A
Mercer County 41, DeSales 17: Sophomore Thaddeus Mays had an interception and a receiving touchdown in the first quarter as Mercer County held court at home. Senior Jackson Peavler also had a 46-yard touchdown for the Titans, and senior quarterback Trosper Buchanan connected with senior Aaron Caton for a 34-yard touchdown pass.
Mercer County led 21-10 at the half. The Titans will play Christian Academy-Louisville next week. Earlier this season, Christian Academy-Louisville defeated Mercer County, 42-0.
Class 2A
Danville 21, Somerset 7: The Admirals (8-4) scored 21 unanswered in the second half on TDs by Mauri Brown, Corydon Crawford and Braidin Baughman. Crawford’s score came on a 73-yard pass from Brady Morse for the lead early in the fourth quarter. The Briar Jumpers (2-9) opened the scoring in the third quarter on a 38-yard TD run by Guy Bailey.
Class A
Hazard 24, Sayre 21: The Panthers (8-4) stuffed Sayre’s opening drive at the goal line and fended off a second-half rally to advance to next week’s district championship against Pikeville. Max Pelfrey broke away at midfield for a touchdown that extended Hazard’s lead to 24-14 in the second half after a Cole Pennington bomb to Jackson Marshall brought Sayre (8-3) within three points. Pennington later added a TD pass to his brother Luke for the final margin.
Frankfort 57, Eminence 27: Jaden Morgan scored three touchdowns, including a 57-yard burst that put the Panthers up 28-8 at halftime. Frankfort (7-4) kept the pressure up from there and took a running-clock 50-14 lead on Charlie Ellis’ 26-yard option pass to Larry Carter late in the third quarter. Carter also had a TD run. Azeno Williams scored twice and Camerson Stone added a touchdown. Blaze Berry had a pair of TD passes to Adonis Whitney for the Warriors (7-4).
Bishop Brossart 14, Paris 12: Bishop Brossart remained a perfect 11-0 on the season and the only undefeated team still left in Class A with a home win over Paris.
The game was scoreless at halftime. Bishop Brossart had a second-half touchdown pass from senior Jacob Leicht to junior Mason Meyer, and Paris also had a second-half touchdown through the air as junior William Puckett connected with senior Gabriel Arnett.
Bishop Brossart will play Nicholas County next week in the second round. Bishop Brossart previously defeated Nicholas County this season, 14-0, on Oct. 1.
Paintsville 64, Betsy Layne 22: Defending Class A state champion Paintsville began its title defense with a 42-point win over Betsy Layne. The Tigers led 15-8 after the first quarter, and junior Harris Phelps added a 7-yard touchdown run in the second quarter. Paintsville also led 36-14 at halftime as the Tigers’ defense recorded a first-half pick six.
Junior Brady Robinson had a 27-yard touchdown catch for Betsy Layne in the loss.
Paintsville will play at Raceland next week. Earlier this season, on Oct. 22, Raceland defeated Paintsville, 36-19.
This story was originally published November 6, 2021 at 2:02 PM.
