Wayne County Outlook
Monticello Mon, May 05 2008
— The Wayne County Cardinals hosted Clinton County last Friday night at
Jewell Field in the Senior Night game on the 2007 schedule.
The Cards entered with a 5-3 mark and were coming off an emotional 25-20
district win at Garrard County. The Bulldogs, plauged by injuries for most
of the season, owned a 0-9 record and were coming off a 58-14 home loss to
Bath County. The contest marked the fourth meeting between the schools, as
Wayne County owns a 3-0 series edge, which included a 41-19 win in 1981, the
last time the teams played.
Wayne County used just 30 plays to total 424 yards, all on the ground,
as the Cards built a 19-0 first quarter lead and cruised to a 47-6 win.
Senior quarterback Jordan Steele paced the offensive attack with nine
carries for a season high 159 yards with a touchdown, while D.J. Hall added
a season best four touchdowns, as the winners improved to 6-3 on the season.
Hall, a 5'7, 165 lb. sophomore halfback, used just 11 carries to total 151
yards and scored on runs of 52, 18, 34 and 7 yards, as the Cards produced 15
plays of 10 yards or more in the running game.
"This was a good win for our team. We played pretty well all night, with
the exception of the second quarter, but overall I was very proud of our
kids. We wanted to play well and hopefully get nobody injured, plus play all
of our younger guys and we accomplished that. I thought we ran the football
extremely well, so give our line and backs a lot of credit. We had four guys
rush for over 50 yards, so the holes were there and everybody that ran the
ball, ran hard," said Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.
The junior tandem of Chris Burks and Dustin Denney both had solid
rushing nights, in limited action.
Burks rushed 2 times for 57 yards, that included a 13 yard scoring run,
while Denney tallied 4 attempts for 52 yards, with a 19 yard touchdown run.
Wayne County totaled 9 first downs, attempted just 2 passes, and never
punted, while winning for the fourth time in their last five games.
"This was certainly a good team win. I thought every guy on the roster
that played tried to make a positive impact. Any time four different guys
score touchdowns and we can play our younger guys in a winning situation,
it's a good night. Depth has been a concern all season, so to get some guys
snaps with a big lead always helps in the future," said Thompson.
Clinton County, which dropped to 0-10, used 60 plays to total 177 yards
of offense with 13 first downs. Brent Durham, an athletic 6'1" 195 lb.
sophomore, paced the Bulldogs with 26 carries for 102 rushing yards and
scored the squads only touchdown, on a 4 yard run.
"Clinton County has a very good offensive backfield and the Durham kid
is a good, hard-nosed runner. They have lost a lot of key players to
injuries, so they're playing some younger guys and while that makes things
tough this year, they'll be a much improved football team next season," said
Thompson.
The Bulldogs opened the game with the football and totaled 8 plays for
35 yards, but the drive stalled and the visitors punted the ball to the
Cards' 10 yard line.
Wayne County needed just 4 plays to roll 90 yards and score on a D.J.
Hall 52 yard touchdown run. Hall added a couple runs of 5 yards each on the
drive, while Jordan Steele added a 28 yard keeper. Michael Garner booted the
extra point to push the score to 7-0, with 7:01 left in the first quarter.
The Cards scored on their next drive and this time it was just 1-play, a
40 yard touchdown run by Jordan Steele to push the score to 13-0. The extra
point failed with 4:24 remaining, in the opening period.
The Wayne County defense once again forced another three downs and out
series, as a shanked punt gave the hosts the football on the Clinton County
41 yard line.
Steele opened the possession with a 21 yard run and D.J. Hall followed
that with a run of 2 yards, then scored on an 18 yard run, as the Cards
rolled to a 19-0 lead with still 1:42 left in the first quarter.
"I thought for the second straight game we came out with the right
intensity and focus. We also led Garrard County 19-0, but the thing that
must improve is we can't get comfortable just because we get a good lead. We
also need to be more consistent in our extra point kicking game. Close games
down to the wire, those extra points can be huge either way," said Thompson.
Clinton County claimed the only score of the second period, as the
Bulldogs used 9 plays to travel 31 yards and score on a Brent Durham 4 yard
run. The point after failed, leaving the score at 19-6, with just :22 left
in the first half.
D.J. Hall gave the Cards a chance to add to their lead before
intermission with a 65 yard kickoff return to the Clinton County 2 yard
line. Wayne County had two plays, but a run lost a yard and the pass was
incomplete, as Wayne held a 19-6 half time advantage.
The Cards dominated the third frame and scored on all three third
quarter possessions, to put the game out of reach.
Wayne opened the second half with the ball and marched 99 yards in 4
plays and scored on a D.J. Hall 34 yard touchdown run. The conversion run
failed, leaving the score at 25-6, with 9:49 left in the period.
After three plays and another Clinton County punt, the Cards offense was
right back in business.
Wayne County rolled 64 yards on 3 plays and scored on a D.J. Hall 7 yard
run. The key play of the drive was a Jordan Steele 53 yard run, as Steele
added the conversion run to push the lead to 33-6, with 7:06 left in the
third period.
The Cards third scoring drive of the quarter came on their longest drive
of the game. Wayne County marched 96 yards on 4 running plays and scored on
a Chris Burks 13 yard run. Burks set up the score with a 44 yard run and the
Michael Garner extra point pushed the advantage to 40-6, with under a minute
left in the third quarter.
"We played very well in the first quarter and I thought we played
extremely well in the third quarter, which allowed for our reserves and
backups to play most of the last 15 minutes of the game," said Thompson.
Wayne County scored on every possession in the second half and added the
final score of the night on a Dustin Denney 19 yard touchdown run. Denney
set up the score with runs of 11 and 18 yards, as the extra point pushed the
score to 47-6 with 8:36 left in the contest.
Neither team would score again, as with a running clock, the Cards held
the Bulldogs in check and cruised to the 47-6 win.
The Cards had several outstanding efforts on defense led by the season
high 19 total tackles of linebacker Michael Garner. Junior linebacker Chris
Burks registered 16 tackles, while the duo of John Piercy and Adam New
finished with 8 stops each, as New added 2 tackles for a loss.
"Defensively we played pretty well. I thought Garner and Burks both had
solid efforts," said Thompson.
Up next for the Cards is the regular season finale, at Monroe County.
The Falcons have played a brutal schedule and have a disappointing 2-7
record, but the squad is coming off a 14-7 win at Allen County-Scottsville.
"Every time we play Monroe County it's a battle and I'm sure this year's
game will be no different. Coach Pettet is a good friend and I know they'll
be ready this Friday, so we must have a very focused week of practice," said
Thompson.
Kickoff is set for 8 p.m. Friday night at Monroe's Darrell Carter
Stadium.
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