Bryan Station dominates, looks ahead to Eastern

Five players scored touchdowns Friday night as Bryan Station rolled over visiting Fern Creek 50-0 in the first round of the Class 6A state high school football playoffs.

"We prepared well this week for this game," Coach Craig Yeast said after his Defenders' first shutout of the season. "Our kids really wanted to come out and win, and give ourselves an opportunity to play a team that we played earlier in the season in Louisville Eastern, and we're excited about winning. I'm happy for our kids."

The Defenders (7-4) will visit Eastern, a 49-3 winner over Paul Laurence Dunbar, in next week's second round. The Eagles beat Bryan Station 30-21 on Aug. 27 in a game played at Lafayette.

Bryan Station dominated Fern Creek from start to finish, amassing 382 yards compared to just 110 for the Tigers.

The Defenders scored on all six of their first-half possessions and led 36-0 at halftime. Then they scored on their first two possessions of the second half before calling off the dogs.

Everett Talbert scored on runs of 8 and 4 yards in the first half, as well as a 6-yarder in the third quarter.

L.J. Warfield (1 yard), Nicholas Johnson (6), Kenyon Hippe (13) and quarterback Ora Johnson (21) also ran for touchdowns.

Ora Johnson completed 12 of 17 passes for 176 yards.

"The game plan was to come out and throw the ball, and let the running game come in," Ora Johnson said. "But, as you can see, the running game kind of did a little better than we thought it (would). My receivers went up and made great plays. I'm just proud of my team and the way they fought."

Jaysuma Webb was Ora Johnson's favorite target, making four catches for 75 yards. Nicholas Johnson had three catches for 59 yards.

All this from a team that got waxed 56-13 by Collins a week earlier.

"We had a tough week of practice," Yeast said. "We just wanted to come out and prove that the team that played against a really, really good Collins football team last week is not really who we are."

Bryan Station was just as good on defense as it was on offense.

Michael Morton came up with two interceptions, the first of which set up Adam Klein's 23-yard field goal.

Fern Creek (4-7) was held to three first downs in each half, four pass completions for 18 yards and just 92 yards on the ground.

"Our goal for the season is a state championship," said Austin Hendron, an outside linebacker who led Bryan Station with six tackles, including a sack and three tackles for a loss. "It's been a long time since we've been there. ... We're ready for State. It's going to be hard work, though. We've got to come to work every day in practice, show a winning mentality and we'll get there."

Ora Johnson finished with 72 yards on five carries, Warfield with 71 yards on 15 rushes.

Backing Hendron, Elijah Burdette was in on 5.5 tackles for the Defenders and Talbert had five solos.

Fern Creek's Aaron Smith ran 12 times for 68 yards.

Fern Creek 0 0 0 0— 0

Bryan Station 17 19 14 0—50

BS—Everett Talbert 8 run (Adam Klein kick); BS—Klein 23 field goal; BS—L.J. Warfield 1 run (Klein kick); BS—Nicholas Johnson 6 run (Max Schier kick); BS—Talbert 4 run (kick failed); BS—Kenyon Hippe 13 run (kick failed); BS—Ora Johnson 21 run (Klein kick); BS—Talbert 6 run (Klein kick).

Records—Bryan Station 7-4, Fern Creek 4-7.

This story was originally published November 5, 2011 at 12:00 AM with the headline "Bryan Station dominates, looks ahead to Eastern."