‘These kids keep responding.’ Lexington Catholic defense sparks Senior Night win.
Lexington Catholic and Scott County were tied 7-7 with 2:45 remaining in the first half Friday night as the visiting Cardinals lined up at their own 33-yard line. It was third-and-9, but Scott County had been giving the Knights all they wanted for two quarters. It was Senior Night in Lexington, and Catholic needed a stop.
On a night where Lexington Catholic’s defense was everywhere, it could’ve been anybody who made the play. But in that moment it was senior Cannon Mackley, a stalwart lineman, who halted the Scott County offense with an interception and pick-six. To onlookers, it appeared Mackley came out of nowhere. But he knew exactly where he was going.
“We’ve been watching a lot of film and I just saw it happen,” Mackley said. “I just knew what was about to happen. He was gonna throw the little screen route, and I was there.”
Mackley’s effort put the Knights up seven at the half on the way to a 21-20 victory, providing the slightest bit of breathing room for a roster determined to make some noise on its home field. Lexington Catholic head coach Nick Baisch said it was a big moment from the senior — who “does anything you ask of him” — to create such a momentum shift on Senior Night.
“I know he was running as fast as he can,” Baisch said. “That smile he had coming off the sideline was huge, and it was a huge change in the game. It gave us a breath of fresh air. They were stacking a drive together and, you know, we caused a turnover. And for the defense to get offensive is huge.”
In Lexington Catholic football, it’s all about “the R,” also known as “the response.”
“We preach it in practice, we preached it throughout the summer, and these kids keep responding,” Baisch said. “They don’t control that outcome, they control how they respond to everything. And in football, it’s a new play every single time and that’s what they gotta do. They they lined up and played every play.”
Though Scott County (8-2) scored first with a 1-yard rushing touchdown from Jacob Fryman at the 7:14 mark in the second quarter, the Knights never faltered. Not four minutes later, LexCath quarterback Jackson Wasik connected with Jackson Kreutzer on a 13-yard touchdown reception to even the score.
Nor, with 2:34 remaining in the third quarter when Scott County tied things at 14 with a 28-yard rushing score from Thomas Feickert. The Knights answered that with a 10-yard TD run from Sam Clements to go up 21-14. And when the offense wasn’t finding the end zone, the Knights’ defense was maintaining control.
“We just knew that everyone doubted us,” junior defensive back Aven Blair said. “And like, we weren’t chosen to win that game. We know what we’re capable of all the time, and that was only a glimpse of our potential. I really think that we put out a good show tonight.”
Lexington Catholic (6-4) finished the game with four pass breakups and pulled in two interceptions, Mackley’s pick-six and Blair’s grab to cut short a six-play Cardinals drive early in the third quarter.
Even when Scott County quarterback Andrew Hickey broke through with a 3-yard keeper with 6:27 remaining in the fourth quarter, pulling his team within one point of the Knights, Lexington Catholic locked in and Sam Smith intercepted the two-point conversion attempt in the end zone. And when the Knights couldn’t muster another score, the defense held strong to force a Scott County turnover on downs at the Cardinals’ 30-yard line.
After the hard-fought victory, a slew of LexCath seniors danced around the field in celebration.
“When we play with no doubt in our mind,” Mackley said, “you could see what will happen, we’ll be dangerous. As long as we play like that, and continue to play like that, good things will happen. “
Lexington Catholic will play host to West Carter (4-6) on Nov. 3 in the first round of the Class 3A playoffs.
Scott County will also open the postseason at home, taking on Conner (5-5) on Friday in the opening round of the Class 5A playoffs.
This story was originally published October 28, 2023 at 9:57 AM.
