High school football highlights: Lexington Catholic rallies late to beat Mercer; Madison Central shells Paul Dunbar 44-20 | Lexington Herald Leader

Down 14-7 at halftime and 16-14 entering the fourth, sixth-ranked Lexington Catholic (5-1) exploded for 20 points and held Mercer County (2-3) scoreless in the final quarter, and won its first district game 34-16 Friday night in Harrodsburg.

James Johnson dominated the first half for the Titans at home, rushing for two TDs, including a 51-yard run in the first quarter. Casey Nash caught a 41-yard pass from Kyle Bolin, a Louisville commit, for the only Knights score before the break.

Amoh Kumengisa tied the game on a 7-yard TD rush at the 11:07 mark in the third quarter. Kumengisa added a 4-yard touchdown, giving the Knights a lead for the first time. Bolin would put more distance between his team and the Titans with a 7-yard TD pass to Anthony Kersey, giving the Knights a 27-16 lead after the PAT. Kumengisa rushed for a 10-yard TD, his third score of the game, with 3:42 to play to put the game out of reach for Mercer.

Kumengisa finished with 64 yards on seven carries. Bolin went 17-for-27 for 288 yards and two TDs, but threw two picks.

Madison Central 44, Paul Dunbar 20: Six different Madison Central (3-2) players scored TDs in a game that saw impressive defensive plays from both teams.

Ken'jah Bosley returned a punt for a 45-yard TD to put the Indians on the scoreboard first, initiating a 22-0 run. Hunter Stocker, despite only going 8-for-20 and throwing two interceptions, threw two TD passes in the second quarter that contributed to the run and a 28-6 halftime lead over the visiting Bulldogs (2-3).

Emory Thompson threw both Paul Dunbar offensive TDs. He finished with 132 yards on 4-for-8 passing and an interception. The highlight on the night for the Bulldogs was a 94-yard interception return by senior Andre Jones.

Frankfort 43, Lexington Christian 14: The Panthers (5-1) outgained the Eagles (4-2) 356-97 in the game, including a 225-25 rushing discrepancy.

Teantre McGee outgained the Eagles by himself, going for 100 yards and two TDs on 11 carries. Dylan Lancaster returned a punt 80 yards for an Eagles TD with the game still close, but it would end up being their final score of the game.

No. 5 Scott County 40, Clark County 6: Kevo Edwards scored three TDs for visiting Scott County (5-1), including a 54-yard TD run in the second quarter. He finished with 235 yards on only eight carries.

The battle between the two Cardinal squads saw Scott County outgain Clark (0-5) 447-237. Clark was held scoreless until C.D. Splight's 5-yard TD run in the the fourth quarter.

No. 17 Franklin County 42, West Jessamine 21: Ryan Timmons continued his rushing dominance at home against the Colts (1-5), going for five TDs and 298 yards on 10 carries for the Flyers (6-0). His longest play from scrimmage was a 92-yard TD run with 5:56 to play in the third quarter.

East Jessamine 28, Woodford County 19: The Jaguars (1-4) got their first win behind their defense, which forced five fumbles and two interceptions for a total of seven Yellowjackets (3-2) turnovers. Two of those fumbles were returned for TDs, one a 26-yard return by Taylor Harper and the other a 55-yard TD recovery by Clay Harrison.

Bourbon County 66, Western Hills 8: Dalton Pope completed only three of his five passes for the Colonels (5-0), but two of them went for touchdowns. He also rushed four times against the visiting Wolverines (0-6) for 77 yards and two TDs. Kentayvus Hopkins took the opening kickoff for 65 yards and a TD.

Perry Co. Central 40, Rockcastle Co. 24: Austin Pray went 9-for-14 for 236 yards and three TDs and carried 15 times for 76 yards in the Commodores' (3-3) road win. The Rockets fell to 2-4. Two of Pray's TDs were to his brother Nathan, who finished with 188 yards on four receptions.

Anderson County 27, Montgomery County 8: The Bearcats (4-1) capped a 20-0 run with Chas Newkirk's 14-yard catch of Matt Tuttle's pass in the fourth quarter. The host Indians (4-1) lost their first game of the season after being outgained 472-185 on the night. Zach Carmichael led Anderson County, going for 243 yards and two TDs on 17-for-25 passing.

Bath County 21, Garrard County 20: Jason Little caught three balls for 140 yards and a TD for the host Wildcats (5-1). His score came in the third quarter and was the eventual game-winner, thanks to a failed two-point conversion attempt by the Golden Lions (2-4) after they scored their final TD in a 20-point second quarter.

Monroe County 63, Hart County 18: Senior quarterback Chad Wilson rushed for 154 yards and two TDs on 12 attempts for the host Falcons (5-1). The Raiders (2-4) were in a two-possession game at halftime, down 28-12, but surrendered 35 points in the second half while only scoring six of their own.

Hancock County 34, Union County 6: The visiting Hornets (4-1) were led by senior running back Justin Hamilton, who carried 20 times for 165 yards and three TDs against the Braves (1-4).

Bourbon County 66, Western Hills 8: Dalton Pope completed only three of his five passes for the Colonels (5-0), but two of them went for touchdowns. He also rushed four times against the visiting Wolverines (0-6) for 77 yards and two TDs.