‘That’s the worst field I’ve ever coached on.’ Douglass survives, LCA rolls.
Highlights from the third round of the high school football playoffs around Kentucky on Friday night:
Class 5A
Frederick Douglass 21, Southwestern 20: Playing on a grass field churned into a mud pit over the course of the season, the visiting Broncos survived a furious rally by a game Southwestern squad in Class 5A.
“That’s the worst field I’ve ever coached on,” Douglass Coach Nathan McPeek said. “The kids made a few plays. We didn’t play great, but, survive and advance.”
Douglass (7-1) led 21-6 heading into the fourth quarter thanks to touchdown passes from Samuel Cornett to Dekel Crowdus and Isaiah Allen and a 35-yard TD run by Cameron Dunn. Southwestern pulled within 21-14 early in the fourth on a 10-yard touchdown run by Connor Crisp, setting up a dramatic final act.
The Warriors converted a fourth down during a final drive in which it scored with 51 seconds left in the game to make it 21-20. Southwestern (10-2) lined up for a two-point conversion to go for the win.
Douglass called a timeout before the attempt to set its defense. After the break, Crisp took the handoff for the Warriors. Obadiah Commodore got penetration to force Crisp wide, then a group of defenders that included Romarion Warner and Caden Johnson turned Crisp back as they all fell to the ground in a heap just short of the goal line.
The Warriors lost in the region finals for the fifth straight year.
“Romarion made the big tackle. It was a good play. They were getting into some unbalanced stuff and our kids were having a hard time getting lined up,” McPeek said.
Douglass will travel to Owensboro for the Class 5A semifinals next Friday. Owensboro got a free pass out of the third round when Fairdale had to forfeit because of COVID-19 protocols.
“We played in a close game, and, obviously for us, we haven’t had a lot of them,” McPeek said. “North Hardin got us earlier in the year, but really in the last four years, we haven’t had a lot of close games. I think that will help us with Owensboro next week.”
Bowling Green 55, North Bullitt 7: Javeius Bunton scored two rushing TDs, including a 46-yarder and caught a TD pass from Conner Cooper for the Purples (8-2). North Bullitt got on the board first with a Cole Durbin 2-yard plunge, but Bowling Green then ran off. Cooper also had a TD pass to Eli Burwash and a 5-yard scoring run himself.
Class 2A
Lexington Christian 43, Metcalfe County 13: Playing on the artificial-turf field of cross-town rival Lexington Catholic because of wet conditions, Lexington Christian (9-1) made quick work of Metcalfe County (6-3) in Class 2A.
Quarterback Drew Nieves helped the Eagles engineer a 26-0 lead early in the second quarter that became a 40-0 halftime advantage, triggering a running clock through the second half.
“Drew was sharp. He threw for two touchdowns and 180 yards in the first half. No mistakes. And he ran for one and made good decisions,” LCA Coach Doug Charles said. “We were clicking and we didn’t turn the ball over. ... It was a good outing and (we) came out of it pretty much injury free.”
Mason Moore had a huge night on both sides of the ball, catching three passes for 81 yards and two touchdowns in the first half and intercepting two passes on defense, returning one pick for a touchdown.
LCA senior running back Will Vernon scored twice, with his 15-yard touchdown around the right end in which he broke several tackles setting the halftime score.
Metcalfe County got on the board in the second half with a pair of touchdown passes from Peyton Dial to Sawyer Evans. The loss snapped a five-game win streak by the Hornets.
In next week’s Class 2A semifinals LCA will host Murray (8-3), which on Friday beat Owensboro Catholic, 28-7, for its fourth straight win.
“Our staff has already started scheming for them. They’re going to be a worthy opponent,” Charles said. “As long as we can keep Drew clean, we’re a tough out. But, if they’re able to get to him and getting him moving and stuff, we could get ourselves in a dogfight.”
Murray 28, Owensboro Catholic 7: Rowdy Sokolowki connected on a 53-yard pass to Charvelle McCallister in the first half and McCallister plunged in for the final score in the second as the Tigers (8-3) controlled throughout. Sokolowski opened the scoring with a 1-yard run. Braden Mundy’s 1-yard plunge cut Owensboro Catholic’s (7-4) deficit to 14-7 just before half. Brendan Dahncke also scored for Murray.
Beechwood 52, Breathitt County 7: Tigers QB Cameron Hergott had TD runs of 40, 52 and 53 yards and scoring passes to three different receivers as Beechwood (8-2) rolled. Hergott hit Brady Moore on the Tigers’ first play from scrimmage for a 67-yard score. Breathitt answered on the first play of its first possession with a 67-yard Jaylen Turner TD. But it was all Beechwood from there. Avery Courtney added a TD run. Tanner Jackson and Liam McCormack also caught TD passes.
West Carter: 43, Walton-Verona 6: Leetavious Cline rushed for 180 yards and four touchdowns and Orry Perry connected with Jackson Bond for 196 yards and two TDs as the Comets (10-1) advanced. Cline has 1,915 rushing yards on the season and a new West Carter record 3,786 yards in his career, according to freelancer Ray Schaefer, writing for The Independent (Ashland).
Class A
Kentucky Country Day 35, Crittenden County 7: The Bearcats (9-1) got two TD runs from Drew Russell in the second half and a two huge interception returns for TDs in the fourth quarter.
E.J. Dickerson opened the scoring for KCD in the first quarter. As Crittenden (7-3) tried to rally from 21-0 down, Dickerson got a 43-yard interception return for a TD. Moments later, Nathan Caldwell returned another pick for six, this one from 50 yards out.
KCD will next face Williamsburg, a 26-6 winner over Nicholas County.
Newport Central Catholic 42, Holy Cross (Louisville) 21: The Thoroughbreds (8-2) scored 21 unanswered points in the fourth quarter with running back Joey Runyon crashing in for three of his four TDs on the night during the rally. NCC also got scores from Malaki Herndon and Buddy Adkins. Chez Geraghty threw for two TDs and ran in another for the No. 1 seeded Cougars (7-2).
Paintsville 39, Hazard 7: Harris Phelps, Luke Hyden and Karsten Poe scored two touchdowns each and Hazard (4-6) lost three fumbles and had a punt blocked in the first half as the Tigers (8-2) were never threatened.
Class 3A
Belfry 42, Bell County 0: Isaac Dixon ran for three touchdowns and caught another as the host Pirates rolled. Dixon had four runs of 20 or more yards and twice carried for more than 40 as he totaled 204 yards on the night.
Belfry held Bell County (6-4) to 175 yards of offense. Daniel Thomas ran for 91 yards in the loss while Dawson Woolum chipped in 48 yards on the ground.
Belfry has won three straight and will travel to Ashland Blazer (9-0) for next week’s Class 3A semifinals. The Tomcats trounced Fleming County, 42-0, on Friday.
Christian Academy-Louisville 28, Glasgow 20: Conner Clayton Masters tossed TD passes of 73 and 32 yards to Easton Messer, and Brandt Babin added a pair of rushing scores as the Centurions (7-2) outlasted the Scotties (7-3). JaMarion Long had a score rushing and receiving for Glasgow. CAL next will face Elizabethtown, a 43-21 winner over Union County.
Class 4A
Johnson Central 28, Corbin 14: The host Golden Eagles churned out 382 rushing yards to remain undefeated (10-0). Dylan Preston led the way with 187 yards and three touchdowns, Grant Rice chipped in 109 yards and Mason Lawson added 78 yards and a TD. It was the first loss since the season opener for Corbin (8-2).
Hopkinsville 14, John Hardin 10: Treyvon Jefferson hit Reece Jesse on a 40-yard TD strike in the first half and Jay’Den Dillard got a 3-yard TD in the second as the Tigers (7-2) escaped a close one with John Hardin (5-3). The Bulldogs got a TD on Kadon Wilson’s 14-yard pass to Tishawn Moore and a Zach Owen field goal.
Class 6A
Male 40, McCracken County 13: The Bulldogs (7-1) got scores from six different players and a 40-0 lead by midway through the fourth quarter to set the clock running on the mercy rule. Nic Schutte had TD passes to Max Gainey and Vincel Anthony. Jaylin Bross, Daniel Swinney and Matthew Ford all had rushing TDs.
In other Class 6A action, Trinity defeated Dixie Heights 56-0 and St. Xavier edged North Hardin 16-9. The Trojans were without Kentucky running back commit La’Vell Wright due to injury.
Franklin County game delayed
Friday’s Class 4A matchup between Franklin County and Allen-County Scottsville in Frankfort was postponed and rescheduled for Saturday after a reported COVID-19 issue for ACS.
According to Brian Milam of WKYT, the Herald-Leader’s reporting partner, ACS was notified of a positive COVID-19 case just hours before kickoff.
After a conference call at midday Saturday among officials from both schools and the Kentucky High School Athletic Association, the game was allowed to take place.
The Flyers overwhelmed ACS with a 48-14 win. Franklin County quarterback Nick Broyles threw for 336 yards and three touchdowns. Running back Kaden Moorman had two rushing TDs and a receiving TD. Wideout Fred Farrier caught for 108 yards and a touchdown.
State semifinals
Here are the matchups for next week’s games. Times TBD.
CLASS A
No. 10 Williamsburg (6-2) at No. 2 Kentucky Country Day (9-1)
No. 7 Newport Central Catholic (8-2) at No. 4 Paintsville (8-2)
CLASS 2A
No. 9 Murray (8-3) at No. 1 Lexington Christian (9-1)
No. 4 Beechwood (8-2) at No. 2 West Carter (10-1)
CLASS 3A
Christian Academy-Louisville (7-2) at No. 1 Elizabethtown (11-0)
No. 7 Belfry (7-3) at No. 2 Ashland Blazer (9-0)
CLASS 4A
No. 12 Hopkinsville (7-2) at No. 1 Boyle County (8-0)
No. 7 Franklin County (8-1) at No. 2 Johnson Central (10-0)
CLASS 5A
No. 9 Frederick Douglass (7-1) at No. 1 Owensboro (10-0)
No. 5 Bowling Green (8-2) at No. 3 Covington Catholic (9-1)
CLASS 6A
No. 10 St. Xavier (6-2) at No. 1 Trinity (8-0)
No. 6 Paul Laurence Dunbar (7-2) at No. 5 Male (7-1)
This story was originally published December 5, 2020 at 12:28 AM.
