Highlights: Madison Central survives slugfest; Station, LCA, LexCath advance in playoffs
Highlights of some of Friday’s second-round playoff games:
Lexington
Madison Central 45, Paul Laurence Dunbar 42: Brady Hensley rushed for 323 yards and five touchdowns, including the go-ahead score with 5:14 left, as the visiting Indians (9-3) survived a slugfest against the Bulldogs (6-6) that included nearly 1,100 yards of total offense, most of it on the ground.
“They made us earn it tonight,” Hensley told the Richmond Register after the game. “My guys killed it blocking on the inside and on the outside, too. Coach (Mike) Holcomb does a great job with calling the plays.”
The rushing attack from Dunbar was just as impressive: Noah Chapman had 260 rushing yards and a score while quarterback Cole Colony rushed for 194 rushing yards and three TDs. Colony also had a 37-yard TD pass to Harrison Simpson in the third quarter.
Dunbar got a 90-yard kick return touchdown from senior Jaden Commodore just before halftime.
Madison Central’s Hagan Harrison completed just three passes, but one went for 89 yards and a touchdown to Jayden West for the team’s second score in a game that had five lead changes. Dunbar took a 42-38 lead with 7:15 left before ceding Hensley’s fifth touchdown.
The game came down to Madison Central’s defense late as Kendric Williams and Sam Farmer stopped Colony short on a fourth-and-8 conversion attempt on the Indians’ 37-yard line with 49 seconds left.
“We just told the guys to leave it all out and empty the tank on the field,” Dunbar Coach Wes Johnson said. “It was a fun one. It’s a difficult way to go out, but it is one of those you can say we did all we could and just came up short. Sometimes, that’s what happens.”
Bryan Station 45, Tates Creek 14: Three rushing TDs by Jeremiah Mundy-Lloyd and two from Bayubahe Benit helped the Defenders (9-3) post 194 rushing yards in a dominant win over Class 6A city-rival Tates Creek (5-7).
Mundy-Lloyd had 115 of that total. Trenton Cutwright threw for 168 passing yards, including a 35-yard score to JT Haskins. Haskins led Station in receiving with 119 yards.
Both of Tates Creek’s scores were touchdown passes from junior quarterback Andrew Witherington to senior receiver Ke’shon Douthitt. The Commodores were held to 5 rushing yards.
Lexington Christian 42, Somerset 13: Cutter Boley threw for 185 yards and three touchdowns and J’Veontae Emerson also had a pair of TD runs for the Eagles (8-4) as they kept alive their playoff hopes in what will be their last game of the season in Lexington unless they make it to Kroger Field in three weeks.
Will Rich, Saxton Howard and Hunter Adams caught the TD passes. BJ Evans also had a rushing score. Somerset (6-6) made it interesting early on Guy Bailey’s 50-yard rushing touchdown late in the first quarter.
Lexington Catholic 14, Bourbon County 0: The Knights (10-2) overcame a fumble and an interception in the first half as their offense sputtered for a time against Class 4A-rival Bourbon County (3-9) in their second meeting this season. But Lexington Catholic’s defense didn’t break in the low scoring game that included a number of clock-draining drives for both teams.
LexCath’s Jackson Wasik found senior Max DeGraff from 10 yards out to cap a 19-play, 85-yard drive to start the second half. Wasik hit Tanner Pedroche from 23 yards out on the Knights’ next possession.
Central Kentucky
Woodford County 49, Pulaski County 28: Andrew Nason rushed for two fourth-quarter touchdowns and threw for another as the Yellow Jackets (11-1) held off a late challenge from the Maroons (9-3) by outscoring them 21-14 in the last frame.
Nason completed 17 of 23 passes for 201 yards and two TDs, a 16-yard pass to Jabari Alexander in the third quarter and a 51-yard pass to Wyatt Crowe midway through the fourth quarter. He also had 47 rushing yards.
Though Woodford County gave up 28 points and two Brysen Dugger-to-Chandler Godby touchdowns in the fourth quarter, the Yellow Jackets held down the Maroons’ passing attack for much of the game, holding Dugger to 159 yards passing, more than 100 below his average.
Woodford took advantage of three Pulaski fumbles, the first a scoop and score that was recovered in the end zone for a 6-0 first-quarter lead. Kenyun Maxberry’s 4-yard TD run put Woodford up 14-0 late in the first half after a Preston Stacy two-point conversion. Stacy led Woodford with 132 rushing yards.
Pulaski stayed in the game thanks to a 75-yard scoring drive to end the first half capped by Ethan Idlewine’s plunge into the end zone with no time left. Godby returned a kickoff 90 yards to cut Woodford’s lead to 21-14 early in the third quarter.
Scott County 29, Highlands 22: The Cardinals (11-1) got rushing touchdowns from Jacob Fryman (154 rushing yards) and Thomas Feickert (79 rushing yards) and never trailed despite giving up two fourth-quarter scores.
Luke Valencia returned a blocked punt 6 yards for a Scott County touchdown in the first quarter. Feickert also had a 4-yard receiving touchdown.
Visiting Highlands (9-3) had won nine straight. Brody Benke completed 17 of 33 pass attempts for 190 yards and a TD to Matteo Matteoli to go with a 16-yard scoring run.
Highlands’ first points of the game came early in the second quarter when junior Conner Wallace was credited with a safety. The Bluebirds cut their deficit to 14-9 on Dawson Hosea’s 14-yard score midway through the second quarter.
Metcalfe County 21, Danville 14: The Hornets (12-0) recovered a fumble midway through the fourth quarter to help set up Michael Bennett’s go-ahead touchdown with 4:21 left in the game.
Metcalfe’s Luke Meadows scooped the fumble after the ball was stripped away in a scrum for more yardage on a play that was not whistled dead until Meadows was tackled to the ground on the Hornets’ 43-yard line. Wyatt Blythe scored two first-half TDs for Metcalfe, the first on a 42-yard slant from Mason Estes and the other on a 10-yard reverse.
Demauriah Brown scored on a 6-yard TD run in the first half and connected on a 44-yard TD pass to Demontrae Trumbo in the third quarter to tie the game at 14-14 for Danville (5-7).
Boyle County 43, Boyd County 21: Boyle County (10-2) raced to a 21-point lead over its hosts and never looked back. Montavin Quisenberry had a remarkable first half: 151 rushing yards, 50 receiving yards and a 98-yard kickoff return for a touchdown, accounting for four of Boyle County’s first five touchdowns.
Boyd County (8-4) got on the board via Blake Waulk’s scoop and score midway through the second quarter, but it trailed 43-7 at half. Rhett Holbrook threw TD passes to Cayden Butler and Josh Thornton in the second half.
Franklin County 40, Spencer County 14: Kaden Moorman rushed for 150 yards and a pair of TDs, including a 95-yard burst to cap the evening, as the visiting Flyers (7-5) took control from the outset.
Christian Moore also scored two touchdowns and Franklin got TD runs from Emanuel Smith and Peyton Ledford as its defense shut out the Bears (10-2) for three quarters. Hunter Gotshall and Delano Collins each had interceptions and huge returns to give the Flyers great field position.
Raceland 43, Paris 6: Logan Lundy threw for 83 yards and four TDs as the Rams (11-1) rolled to a 43-0 running clock margin by halftime. Mason Lykins caught two of the scores. Landyn Newman and Parker Fannin had the others. Raceland’s defense held Paris (8-4) to three first downs. Kaden Frederick’s 11-yard TD pass to Trey Murrell in the third quarter avoided the shutout.
Class A
Pikeville 43, Harlan 8: The defending Class A state champion Panthers (9-2) led 36-0 at the half with two short rushing touchdowns from sophomore Brenden Anthony, a 46-yard scoring run by Tayvian Boykins, and Isaac Duty TD passes of 50 yards to Wade Hensley and 31 yards to Blake Birchfield. The victory marked the 50th playoff win as Pikeville head coach for Chris McNamee.
Class 2A
Owensboro Catholic 47, McLean County 32: The Aces (9-3) scored the game’s first 21 points and were never threatened against district-rival McLean (9-3). Brady Atwell threw TD passes to Tut Carrico, Deuce Sims and Waryn Ebelha and Owensboro Catholic got TD runs from Jack Terry and Miles Edge to help take a 40-6 lead early in the second half.
Beechwood 62, Carroll County 14: The two-time defending champion Tigers (11-1) won their 11th straight playoff game thanks to touchdowns from sophomore Chase Flaherty and senior Landon Johnson, among a bevy of other scoring plays. The Beechwood defense had three interceptions on the night. Samuel Oldham threw two TD passes for Carroll County (7-5).
Class 3A
Paducah Tilghman 56, Casey County 22: The Blue Tornado (6-6) caught fire in the postseason last year and appears to have rekindled the flame. Tilghman scored 35 points in the second quarter to establish a running clock on Casey’s (8-4) home field with TD passes from Jack James to LeBran McMullen and JoeAvion Starks sparking the run. Big TD runs by Malachi Rider (43 yards) and Joemari Starks (36 yards) broke the game open. Decoven Bell’s pick six for a 42-6 lead just before halftime set the running clock.
Ashland Blazer 48, Belfry 7: LaBryant Strader threw a 37-yard TD pass to Braxton Jennings, a 44-yarder to Brandon Houston and scored two short rushing TDs as the Tomcats (8-4) ousted defending Class 3A champion Belfry (6-6). Jennings also had two rushing TDs and Tay Thomas tacked on a 3-yard score in the rout. Belfry’s lone score came on a rare pass play from Chase Varney to Aidan Burke.
Bell County 47, Fleming County 6: The Bobcats (10-2) racked up 333 rushing yards with Dawson Woolum breaking TD runs of 22, 26 and 51 yards to go with two short-yardage scores and Daniel Thomas rushing for 131 yards and a TD. Ethan Raby also scored for Bell.
Class 4A
Johnson Central 43, Wayne County 6: Zack McCoart scored two of Johnson Central’s five rushing touchdowns, one for 49 yards and Logan Music had a pick six for the Golden Eagles (10-2). Music also scored on a 26-yard run. Mason Lawson scored from 40 yards out and Chase Price broke for 73 yards.
Class 5A
Southwestern 35, North Laurel 7: Tanner Wright rushed for 119 yards and two TDs while Braxton Walters and Christian Walden also notched scoring runs for the Indians (12-0) as they swept the Jaguars (6-6) out of the playoffs. Roger Oliver connected with Maison Hibbard on a 21-yard TD late.
Class 6A
Male 22, St. Xavier 21: Antonio Harris threw an option pass to Max Gainey for a go-ahead two-point conversion in overtime as the Bulldogs (8-4) stunned defending champion and No. 1 St. Xavier (10-2).
Male’s Lucas Coble scored on a 10-yard run in overtime to answer the St. X score by Trevor Havill moments earlier, but unlike the Tigers who kicked an extra point, Male put the season on the line with the two-point try.
“We didn’t have much left,” Male Coach Chris Wolfe told the Courier Journal. “We couldn’t get a first down running the ball in the second half, so there wasn’t any sense in us trying to grind it out with them. I was like, ‘I’m going to put it in the hands of my best players.’”
Male held a 14-7 lead going into the fourth quarter on a TD run by Daniel Swinney and TD pass from Max Gainey to Andrew Vrbancic. Havill tied the game at 14-14 in the fourth quarter and had a 3-yard TD pass to Adam Boone in the first half.
Bullitt East 36, Manual 35: The Chargers (11-1) denied Manual’s go-ahead two-point conversion with 28.5 seconds left and held off a furious 21-point fourth-quarter rally by the Crimsons (9-3) for the win.
Ryan Still’s go-ahead, 99-yard kickoff return with 1:33 left in the game and a subsequent two-point conversion provided Bullitt East the 36-29 cushion it needed to survive Manual’s last gasp.
Manual answered a minute later on a trick play lateral to lineman Edward Ryan, who threw it 50 yards to Jeremiah Blakely. The Chargers stopped Manual QB Tyree Stoner on the conversion try, however.
Trinity 51, Simon Kenton 20: Andrew Allen rushed for 139 yards and a score while Jeremiah Lynn got two TDs on 39 yards rushing for the visiting Rocks (8-4), who pulled away with a 28-point third quarter against the Pioneers (8-4).
Region Championships
All games Friday. Times TBA. Ratings by RPI
Class A
No. 17 Crittenden County (8-4) at No. 6 Louisville Holy Cross (9-3)
No. 9 Newport Central Catholic (10-2) at No. 7 Kentucky Country Day (9-2)
No. 18 Paintsville (6-5) at No. 1 Pikeville (9-2)
No. 3 Hazard (8-4) at No. 2 Raceland (11-1)
Class 2A
No. 12 Shelby Valley (10-2) at No. 1 Beechwood (11-1)
No. 11 Breathitt County (9-2) at No. 9 Lloyd Memorial (9-3)
No. 6 Metcalfe County (12-0) at No. 3 Mayfield (12-0)
No. 7 Lexington Christian (8-4) at No. 2 Owensboro Catholic (9-3)
Class 3A
No. 3 Union County (12-0) at No. 2 Bardstown (12-0)
No. 9 Ashland Blazer (8-4) at No. 5 Bell County (10-2)
No. 17 Paducah Tilghman (6-6) at No. 1 Christian Academy-Louisville (12-0)
No. 10 Greenup County (8-4) at No. 4 Mason County (12-0)
Class 4A
No. 3 Lexington Catholic (10-2) at No. 2 Boyle County (10-2)
No. 7 Johnson Central (10-2) at No. 1 Corbin (12-0)
No. 13 Central (8-4) at No. 6 Logan County (11-1)
No. 14 Franklin County (7-5) at No. 4 Warren East (12-0)
Class 5A
No. 14 South Oldham (8-4) at No. 5 Bowling Green (10-2)
No. 7 Woodford County (11-1) at No. 1 Frederick Douglass (12-0)
No. 11 Fairdale (11-1) at No. 9 Owensboro (10-2)
No. 3 Southwestern (12-0) at No. 2 Scott County (11-1)
Class 6A
No. 11 Madison Central (9-3) at No. 3 Ballard (10-2)
No. 9 Trinity (8-4) at No. 5 Bryan Station (9-3)
No. 10 Central Hardin (11-1) at No. 6 Bullitt East (11-1)
No. 8 Henderson County (10-2) at No. 7 Male (8-4)
