Henry Clay escapes Boyle County 47-43

DANVILLE — Henry Clay receiver Aaron Boyd, a 6-foot-6 senior, stood even taller to Blue Devils fans after he made the game-winning touchdown catch in the closing seconds of a 47-43 victory at Boyle County last night.

Henry Clay led 40-14 early in the fourth quarter before Boyle County rallied for 29 points to take a 43-40 lead with just over a minute left.

But Boyd, shown at right, wasn’t worried. “I had a smile on my face because I knew we would come back with it,” he said.

The Devils, under the direction of quarterback Ryan Phillippi, drove 71 yards in 55 seconds, with Phillippi hitting Boyd with a 28-yard pass to the left side of the end zone for the winning score.

“Ryan got great protection and laid the ball up there to a big-time receiver, and Aaron went up and got it,” Henry Clay Coach Sam Simpson said

Phillippi said he “knew the play was going to be there” even before he called it in the huddle.

Boyd, who’s being recruited by a host of Division I colleges, wasn’t distracted by the two Boyle County defenders on him. “With the game on the line, I concentrated on the ball, nothing else,” he said. “That’s what great receivers do.”

Boyle County Coach Chris Pardue agreed. “If we had 6-foot-7 defensive back over there, we might’ve made the play,” he said. “But Henry Clay went to their go-to guy and he made the play. That’s what Mr. Fotball is supposed to do.”

Boyd wound up with seven catches for 203 yards and two TDs. “I was kind of feeling a groove,” he said.
Phillippi had a monster game. The 6-foot, 175-pound senior completed 16 of 27 passes for 255 yards and two TDs, and ran 24 times for 222 yards and three TDs.

“Phillippi’s an excellent quarterback,” Pardue said. “I hope we don’t see a better one this year.”

Henry Clay running back Dontey Gay rushed for 96 yards and two TDs as the Devils had 577 yards of offense.

The Devils had everything going their way as they built leads of 27-7 and 40-14.

But Boyle County didn’t quit.

Senior quarterback rry Bryce Perry engineered the Rebels’ stunning comeback with a short passing game that had Henry Clay on its heels in the fourth quarter. Perry wound up hitting on 23 of 36 passes for 267 yards and three TDs. He also ran for a score, a 3-yarder that cut the deficit to 40-35 with two minutes left.
The Rebels’ defense then stuffed Henry Clay on three downs and forced a punt. Perry struck quickly again, hitting Jacob Enlow with a 36-yard TD pass, and a two-point conversion toss to Jordan Aumiller to give the hosts a 43-40 lead.

But Henry Clay had one last offensive burst, and it was enough to salvage victory.

“Hat’s off to Boyle County,” Simpson said. “They’ve been a program for years that has shown they have heart. But we showed heart tonight, too.”

Pardue hopes his Rebels, who lost to Bowling Green last week as part of a brutal early schedule, can build on last night’s game. “I’m not a believer in moral victories,” he said. “We should’ve won this game. But it was a great comeback and our kids never quit. We just need to take one more step and get over the hump.”

Trinity, Corbin, Harrison County among winners

A few highlights from Friday night football:

• Bowling Green led host Trinity 28-25 after three quarters, but the Shamrocks rallied for a 39-28 victory. QB Will Stein threw for 279 yards, and RB Tim Phillips rushed for 167 yards and 3 TDs for Trinity, which has won 25 consecutive games against Kentucky competition.
• Corbin bounced back from an opening 21-0 loss to Belfry to beat 6A Paul Dunbar 21-18 in the Cumberland Falls Pigskin Classic. QB Clint Cashen threw for 204 yards and 2 TDs, and RB Ryan Fritts rushed for 126 yards and a TD for the Redhounds.
• Harrison County knocked off Clark County 17-13, dropping the Cardinals to 0-2. Malcolm Thomas caught a 38-yard TD pass from Van Isaac for what proved to be the decisive TD. The Thorobreds improved to 2-0.
• Breathitt County QB Colby Fugate threw for 192 yards, and RB Channing Fugate rushed for 124 yards and added 88 yards receiving as the Bobcats outlasted Prestonsburg 12-7.
• St. Xavier, tuning up for a showdown at Lexington Catholic next week, routed Oldham County 53-0 behind RB Deuce Finch’s 182 yards and 3 TDs
• Bourbon County lost its 34th consecutive game, falling to Estill County 30-26.
• Pleasure Ridge Park, one of the highly touted 6A teams in the pre-season, dropped to 0-2 with a 27-21 loss to Ballard. PRP lost its opener to defending Indiana state champ Warren Central.
• Mercer County notched its 17th consecutive victory — the longest winning streak in the state — by beating Greenville, Tn., 14-9.
• Host Hazard outgunned Clay County 34-33 in the Vernon Cooper Pride of the Mountains Classic.
• Danville, led by Antowain Simon’s three TDs, beat Pulaski Southwestern 37-18. The Admirals have a date with cross-town rival Boyle County next week.
• Lafayette’s Eric Shaw had three TDs to help Lafayette beat host Franklin County 28-12.

Fields’ Friday football top 25

After taking a shot in the dark and rating the top 25 football teams in the pre-season, I’ll try to get a better handle every Friday on who’s hot and who’s got what. (Shown below is Bowling Green Coach Kevin Wallace, whose team visits No. 1 Trinity tonight).

1. Trinity (0-0) . . . Bowling Green
2. Highlands (1-0) . . . Trotwood Mason (at UC Sunday)
3. Henry Clay (1-0) . . . at Boyle County
4. Manual (1-0) . . . Christian County
5. Male (1-0) . . . Seneca (at Manual)
6. St. Xavier (1-0) . . . Oldham County
7. Lex. Catholic (1-0) . . . at Scott County
8. Bowling Green (1-0) . . . at Trinity
9. Lafayette (1-0) . . . at Franklin County
10. Scott County (1-0) . . . Lex. Catholic
11. Bell County (1-0) . . . at Whitley County
12. PRP (0-1) . . . Ballard
13. Ballard (0-1) . . . at PRP
14. Belfry (1-0) . . . Lawrence County
15. Central (0-1) . . .open date
16. Madison Central (1-0) . . . at Madison Southern
17. Beechwood (1-0) . . . Lloyd
18. Johnson Central (1-0) . . . Conner
19. North Bullitt (0-1) . . . Breckinridge Co.
20. Boone County (0-1) . . . at Mason County
21. Owensboro (1-0) . . . Owensboro Catholic
22. Trigg County (1-0) . . . Calloway County
23. Rockcastle County (1-0) . . . at Wayne County
24. Mayfield (1-0) . . . open date
25. John Hardin (1-0) . . . Meade County

QBs Curtis, Phillippi earn notice

Everybody loves lists, whether they’re devoted to the top 10 sports dynasties, top 20 rock bands or top 50 movies of all time. Such lists are based on opinion, which is why they generate debate. The Herald-Leader’s pre-season high school football list of “50 of Kentucky’s Top Players” is no different. It is anything but definitive. It is based on a survey of coaches and their opinions, so some worthy players are bound to get left out. One game into the season, senior quarterbacks Kaleb Curtis of Montgomery County and Ryan Phillippi of Henry Clay have shown they probably deserved to be on the list.

Curtis (photo at left courtesy kysportspage.com) was a 1,000-yard rusher and 1,000-yard passer last year, but got overlooked because he played in a program that hasn’t had a winning season or won a playoff game in almost a decade. But he showed his talent and grit in leading Montgomery County to a 35-34 upset of Clark County in the Recreation Bowl last week. Flashing quick feet, Curtis ran the ball 22 times for 162 yards and 4 touchdowns, threw for 124 yards, and was a stalwart on defense. If the Indians turn things around in Dan Gooch’s third year as coach, Curtis will be the key.

Phillippi, shown at right, had a great junior season in which he completed 69% of his passes for 2,482 yards and 32 TDs, and ran for 587 yards and 7 TDs. But he was overshadowed this pre-season by star teammates, WR Aaron Boyd and RB Dontey Gay. But Phillippi is the guy who makes the Blue Devils go, as he showed in a 33-19 season-opening win against Warren Central. He carried 20 times for 101 yards and 2 TDs, and passed for 221 yards and a TD. If Henry Clay lives up to its pre-season hype, Phillippi will be the guy leading the way.

Danville and Boyle County drop openers

Reviewing some of the happenings you might have missed from season-opening bowl games:

• Madison Central beat host Danville 26-7 in the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic. Danville, No. 1 in Class 2A, had five turnovers against the 6A Indians. Junior QB Zac Coldiron, playing in place of senior Chaz Hope, threw for 116 yards and a TD, and also ran for a score.
• Bowling Green broke away from a 14-14 tie to beat Boyle County 49-21 in the Rafferty’s Bowl at Western Kentucky University. The Purples, No. 2 in Class 5A, scored two quick defensive TDs in the fourth quarter to put it away. Alfred Gilbert had a 92-yard fumble return, and Austin Schlinke had a 79-yard interception return. Boyle County, No. 5 in 4A, outgained the Purples 399-379, but had four turnovers.
• Frankfort senior QB E.J. Fields (shown at right) rushed for almost 200 yards and 4 TDs, including scoring runs of 75 and 74 yards, in a 33-0 win over Campbellsville in the White, Maggard and Greer Classic at Lexington Christian. Frankfort is No. 4 in Class A, and Campbellsville is No. 9.
• Bell County used a strong running game to beat host Lincoln County 31-7 in the Death Valley Bowl. The Bobcats’ Spencer Greer and T.R. Christopher combined to rush for almost 200 yards.
• Scott County forced a late turnover and QB Brandon Lawson scored on a 18-yard run inside the final minute as the Cardinals beat Boone County 28-20 in the Ray Adams Classic at Papa John’s Cardinal Stadium. Scott County is rated 10th in 6A, and Boone is No. 8.
• Shelby County QB Alex Matthews’ TD pass in the closing minutes lifted the Rockets over host North Hardin 30-27 in the Joe Jaggers Classic.
• Four-time Indiana state champ Warren Central beat Pleasure Ridge Park 35-7 in a bowl game in Indianapolis.
• Pikeville, No. 7 in Class A, knocked off No. 3 Louisville Holy Cross 28-18 in the Pike County Bowl.
• Mercer County, undefeated 2A champ last season and now in 5A, posted its 16th consecutive victory by beating Russell County 34-7 in the Bob Allen Pigskin Classic.

Montgomery County stuns Clark County in Rec Bowl

MOUNT STERLING — It’s been almost a decade since Montgomery County celebrated a bigger football victory than last night’s stunning 35-34 victory over Clark County in the 60th Recreation Bowl.

“It doesn’t get much bigger than this for Montgomery County, and we’re proud,” said Coach Dan Gooch said, who got an ice-water dousing from his players after the game.

More than 4,500 fans saw underdog Montgomery County, which hasn’t had a winning season since 1998, rally from a 34-21 deficit late in the third quarter to win a Rec Bowl game for the first time since 1987. It had gone 0-9 since, but ended that skid in style last night.

Quarterback Kaleb Curtis, who was magnificent all night, bulled his way into the end zone from one yard out for the tying TD midway through the fourth quarter. Steven Hovermale’s extra point gave the Indians a 35-34 lead.

Clark County threatened to pull it out with a late drive, but it stalled at the 20. The Cardinals still had a chance to win, but Aaron Dini’s 36-yard field goal attempt was blocked by Ryan Hackworth with a minute left. The Indians then ran out the clock, touching off a wild scene of jubilation among players, coaches and fans.

“The seniors played with a lot of heart and never gave up,” Gooch said. “Our kids believed we could win.”

Curtis, a gutsy 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior, led the charge. He ran 22 times for 162 yards and four TDs, and passed for 124 yards. “It’s not me, it’s everybody,” Curtis said after his MVP performance. “Without the (offensive) line, I couldn’t do anything.”

Zack Stroub had 73 yards receiving, and 27 rushing.

Curtis and Stroub were also keys on defense.

The Indians played Clark County close twice last year, and almost pulled off a miracle rally in the playoffs.

“This year is a whole lot different,” Curtis said. “I could tell in summer practice we were ready to get it on.
“We’re back on track now. We’ve restored the pride.”

Clark County, with 22 seniors back from last year’s 8-5 team, got big games from a lot of people.
Travis Conner rushed for 101 yards and a TD. Quarterback Dougie Mason passed for 81 yards and ran for 53. Tatum Lewis caught a 59-yard TD pass and was a force on defense.

But the Cards couldn’t finish off Montgomery County, and lost to their next-door-neighbor rivals for the first time in a decade.

Harrison wrecks Fleming in Rec Bowl

MOUNT STERLING — Jared Sharp plays football for Harrison County’s Thorobreds, but the 5-foot-5, 195-pound senior was a pure “quarter” horse tonight. In the first quarter of the 60th Recreation Bowl, Sharp ran for 76 yards and three touchdowns, recovered a fumble, intercepted a pass and had a quarterback sack.

His quick start spurred Harrison County to a 26-0 lead, and the ‘Breds galloped away to a 53-8 victory.

Sharp, who always played on the offensive line before being coverted to running back early last season, wound up rushing for 104 yards on six carries — all in the first half. “We’ve got an awesome line, and running behind them is like running behind an iron wall . . . it’s there all day,” Sharp said. “They keep giving me holes, I’m going to keep running for them and make everybody proud.”

Harrison County Coach Ray Graham gave Sharp a lot of credit, too. “He’s 5-5, 190 pounds, and his heart is as big as a mountain,” Graham said. “He came in for over 100 workouts in the winter before school and over 100 after school. “He ran track, he wrestled, and he kept his grades up. That kid is made of heart and deserves everything he gets.”

Sharp wasn’t the onl ‘Bred to have a big day.

Junior quarterback Van Issac hit on six of seven passes for 199 yards and four TDs, two apiece to Julius Talbott and Daniel Clouse. Talbott’s two receptions totaled 97 yards.

And Harrison County’s defense forced five turnovers and limited Fleming County to 206 yards, most of those coming long after victory was assured.

It was Harrison County’s first win in the Rec Bowl since it beat Middlesboro in 1968. The ‘Breds had lost three times since, to Madisonsville in 1973, and Danville in 1984 and 1990.

“We’re just fortunate we were able to get almost everybody who traveled with us got to play in our first game of the season,” Graham said. “We’re hoping to have great chemistry this year, and it seems like we’ve got that. It seems our kids care about each other and getting off to a good start helps that.”

Friday night highlights

The 2007 high school football season kicked off in sweltering conditions across Kentucky. Lafayette’s Zach Currier is shown below cooling off. Some teams and players turned in suitably hot performances. Among them:

• After winning a Class 2A title in 2005 and finishing runner-up last year, Russell started 2007 in style with a 48-18 rout of Greenup County. Senior QB Tyler Jones, expected to be the Red Devils’ leader, starred in the opener. He ran 10 times for 96 yards and 4 TDs, and passed for 111 yards and a TD.
• If it’s any consolation to Corbin, which lost to Belfry 21-0 in the Pike County Bowl, Newport Central Catholic lost to Belfry in that bowl last year but wound up winning the Class A state title.
• St. Xavier opened its new stadium in less than impressive fashion, slipping past Ballard 18-14 on Joe Montano’s TD with two minutes left. More than 8,000 fans were on hand.
• Lafayette kicker Jake Stephens, who has one of the strongest legs in the state, showed it by booming field goals of 48, 47 and 31 yards in a 16-6 win over North Bullitt.
• Clay Clevenger, a former all-state lineman at Danville, made his debut as a head coach at Henderson County. His Colonels lost 45-10 to Evansville (Ind.) North.
• Louisville Central, top-rated in Class 3A, took it on the chin in its opener as it lost to 6A power Manual.
• Bardstown’s Kelvin Scott rushed for 273 yards and 4 TDs as the Tigers devoured crosstown rival Nelson County 19-14.
• Rockcastle County began last season surviving a 2-0 bowl victory over Corbin. The Rockets had a lot more offense in its opener last night, beating Southwestern 35-21 in the Ray Correll Bowl in Somerset. Casey Hayes rushed for 100 yards and 4 TDs to lead the way.
• Tyler Olinger threw three TD passes and ran for two scores to spark Hazard to a 43-0 lead over Letcher County Central. The Bulldogs wound up winning 43-22.
• Highlands, rated No. 1 in Class 5A, beat Ryle 49-21. The Bluebirds piled up 359 yards rushing, led by Josh Conner’s 104 yards and 5 TDs.

Dunbar bashes Bryan Station in opener

If Paul Dunbar’s football players sounded a little off key belting out the school fight song after last night’s 45-3 victory at Bryan Station, there was a reason.

“They only got to sing it once all last year, so they didn’t get much practice,” Dunbar Coach David Hensley said with a laugh.

The Bulldogs lost their first nine games last season before finally beating Bryan Station in the chill of late October.
They were determined to get a quick “W” this year, and they got it in a sweltering season opener, and also spoiled Bryan Station’s debut in its new stadium.

“Dunbar’s back!” said junior running back Jerrell Green, who ran for 69 yards and three touchdowns, had a 52-yard punt return, and caught two passes for 26 yards.

It was Dunbar’s eighth win in a row over its rivals, and Bryan Station’s 18th consecutive loss in city competition over the last five years.

The Defenders, who are hoping to turn things around after winning only nine games over the previous six years, didn’t do much right under the bright lights of their new facility.

“Give it to Dunbar. They played great and beat us in every facet,” Bryan Station second-year coach Oliver Lucas said. “We did not perform the way we’re capable based on how we practiced. That’s not the kids’ fault; that’s my fault. To the Bryan Station community and parents, I apologize. I failed to have my team ready.”

Dunbar was ready from the opening kickoff. It scored on its first four possessions to build a 24-0 lead.
Greene capped an opening 11-play drive with a 5-yard TD run. Jason Nicholson kicked a 40-yard field goal. Martaveous Mays (shown above) scored on a 9-yard reverse. And on the first snap after Marquis Clay intercepted a Bryan Station pass, he tiptoed in for a one-yard TD.

Dunbar stretched its lead to 38-0 before Christian King’s 32-yard field goal got Bryan Station on the scoreboard in the closing minutes.

Clay had a productive night at quarterback for Dunbar. He threw for 61 yards, ran for 21, and his quick feet kept Bryan Station’s on edge.

The Bulldogs controlled the line of scrimmage offensively and defensively. Bryan Station ran 19 plays in the first half for 14 net yards.

D.L. Wilhite, a 240-pound running back transfer from Paris, found some daylight in the second half and finished with 85 yards on 16 carries. Patrick Cornett added 77 yards on the ground.

Terrell Combs, the team’s top rusher last year, was used at receiver last night. The 6-foot-2, 240-pound senior didn’t touch the ball — except to punt — until he caught a couple swing passes in the fourth quarter.
“Our defense played great,” Hensley said.

Robert Koteff, a senior linebacker, agreed. “We definitely had our hearts in it,” he said. “We didn’t want to give up anything. We played really good.”

Even though Bryan Station avoided a shutout, Dunbar linebacker Nick Edelstein said, “It’s still a goose egg to me,” because the Dogs’ second string defense surrendered the field goal.

High school ball kicks the college game

TOP 10 REASONS

HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL IS BETTER THAN COLLEGE FOOTBALL

10. TV timeouts a rarity.

9. Everybody remembers that Michael Vick played at Virginia Tech. Nobody remembers where he played high school ball.

8. Saturday afternoons free for golf.

7. Who’s ultimately No. 1 is decided on the field, not in the polls.

6. ESPN analysts don’t play out the entire schedule before the season even kicks off.

5. Joe Paterno, in his 42nd season as Penn State coach, hasn’t won a national title in 21 years. Bob Schneider, in his 42nd year as Newport Central Catholic coach, won state titles the past two years.

4. Seeing guys like George Adams, Dermontti Dawson, Mark Logan, Mark Higgs, Shaun Alexander, Dennis Johnson, Chris Redman, Tim Couch, Jared Lorenzen and Brian Brohm before they went big-time.

3. Friday night visits to places such as Belfry, Corbin, Danville, Highlands, Mayfield, Pikeville and Rockcastle County.

2. The impossible is possible. Bourbon County’s 1997 state title is proof of that.

1. Championships galore!