Lexington Christian overcomes injuries to nab first win of Oakley Watkins era
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- Lexington Christian beat North Hardin 41-21 in Watkins' head coaching debut.
- Sophomore Nash Whelan rushed for 137 yards, scored four touchdowns.
- LCA defense held North Hardin to 208 yards, overcoming multiple key injuries.
Lexington Christian overcame injuries to two starters and overwhelmed big-school opponent North Hardin 41-21 Friday in the nightcap of the Eagles’ eCampus.com Bowl to give head coach Oakley Watkins his first victory in charge.
LCA sophomore multi-purpose back Nash Whelan, who was pressed into duty at quarterback in the second half, rushed for 137 yards and four touchdowns, including scoring scampers of 54 and 34 yards.
Whelan’s 54-yard touchdown came on a fourth-and-1 late in the second quarter and yielded a 21-7 lead moments after Sam Pearson’s interception at the Eagles’ 5-yard line denied the Trojans a potential game-tying drive.
Those two plays alone signaled Class 2A’s No. 3 team was more than ready for its Class 6A opponent.
“It’s pretty special with these kids, especially with the adversity we’ve faced this week,” Watkins said. “We’ve had a lot of injuries. Obviously, Carter (Penix) and Mac (Darland) both go down tonight and both are starters for us. These guys just play with a next-man-up mentality. They really rose to the occasion today.”
Whelan had already been having a great game alongside Penix when LCA’s senior starting QB went down with a knee injury on the second series of the third quarter. Darland, another senior who plays both linebacker and running back, suffered a shoulder injury in the first half.
“It’s tough for Carter. He was balling out and had a great fall camp,” said Whelan, who had some designed plays set up for him at quarterback even with Penix in the lineup. “My O-line blocked great for me.”
LCA’s offense kept rolling with Whelan behind center. He capped the last drive Penix started with a 19-yard run for a 28-14 lead with 7:45 to play in the third quarter.
Later, Whelan threw a 50-yard pass to wideout Tyler King to set up his third rushing touchdown, a 1-yard plunge for a 34-14 lead with 3:52 remaining in the third. Whelan ran in his 34-yard TD to set the final score at 41-21 with 3:04 to play.
“Nash, he’s just a freak of an athlete. He can play anywhere he really wants to,” said Pearson, who caught a 25-yard TD pass from Penix in the first quarter to help LCA tie the game at 7-7 after North Hardin took the opening drive for a score.
Penix, whose injury was described by Watkins as a possible hyperextension, also had a 26-yard TD run in the first half to give LCA its first lead.
Things looked rough for LCA early as North Hardin capped the game’s first series with Jakylin Kirkland’s 16-yard screen pass to three-star senior wideout Ronald Lunz, a Kentucky recruit.
But LCA kept the Trojans largely in check the rest of the way, allowing North Hardin 208 total yards to its 420. North Hardin scored its other first-half touchdown on a 100-yard kickoff return by Zayden Winfield. Its final score, a 15-yard Kirkland pass to Cor’Vonta Gaines, drew the Trojans within 34-21 with under eight minutes left.
“With a 6A school, they have a big roster and Brent (Thompson, North Hardin’s coach) does an outstanding job there, so we knew we were going to be tested tonight,” Watkins said. “Having depth issues already with some injuries — to fight through that tonight was really cool and I was really proud.”
Watkins got his celebratory ice bath from his players after the final horn and got the game ball from former head coach Doug Charles, who remains an assistant.
“I’ve been around him all my life, so it’s a great feeling to see him get his first win,” Whelan said of Watkins.
In the first game of the eCampus.com Bowl, South Warren defeated Bryan Station 56-35.
LCA travels to Class 4A powerhouse Boyle County for an 8 p.m. kickoff next Saturday.
This story was originally published August 23, 2025 at 9:43 AM.
