By SHANNON HUTCHINSON Sports Writer
CNHI
11-17-10 — The Wayne County Cardinals met Breathitt County, last Friday night at Mike Holcomb Field, in the opening round of the class 3A state playoffs. The Cards entered as the district's four seed with 5-5
record, while the Bobcats owned a 6-4 overall district tally. The contest marked the second ever meeting between the schools, as Breathitt County opened the 2009 state playoffs with a 26-0 home win over Wayne County.
Breathitt County scored 27 straight points late in the first half and into the early stages of the fourth quarter to break open a 27-18 battle, en route to a 53-26 playoff win. Sophomore quarterback Richard Trent totaled 295 yards of offense and 6 touchdowns, to pace
the winners.
Trent rushed 16 times for 170 yards, with touchdown runs of 36, 14, 1 and 19 yards, plus completed 7 of 8 passes for 125 yards, with another two scores, as Breathitt County used 44 plays to total 498
yards of offense. The talented signal-caller connected with Wes Noble
for a 22 yard score and followed that up with a 31 yard strike to
Josh Fletcher.
Fletcher added a 45 yard touchdown run and Tyler Little opened the
same with a 75 yard kickoff return for a score, as the Bobcats
improved to 7-4 on the season.
"Offensive turnovers and poor tackling were the differences in the game. We moved the ball well most of the night, but once again the big play killed us. We were in a position to make plays, but once again our inability to tackle, just allowed way too many big plays. This game was like a couple we lost in the regular season," said
Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.
Wayne County, which dropped to 5-6, used 64 plays to total 313 yards of offense with 15 yards of offense with 15 first downs, against 4 costly turnovers. Senior Devin Sloan continued his late season surge
with 25 carries for 175 yards and 3 touchdowns. Sloan scored on runs of 59, 8 and 5 yards, as the Cards totaled 220 rushing yards, on 50
attempts.
"We came out nervous early and played hesitant, but after Devin broke open a big scoring run I thought we really competed hard. Two
plays were so big in this game and both just didn't go our way. We allowed them to complete a 22 yard pass to end the half and then got
stopped on the one yard line to start the second half. That's a two touchdown difference and it's 27-25, plus we would have had all kinds of momentum," said Thompson.
The Bobcats seized the momentum on the opening kickoff, as Tyler
Little raced 75 yards for the touchdown. Devon Rice booted the extra-
point to push the lead to 7-0, with only 14 seconds off the clock.
Wayne County sandwiched two fumbles around a punt, on their opening
3 offensive possessions, as the second turnover setup a Breathitt County score.
The Bobcats used just one-play, a Richard Trent 36 yard touchdown
run, to push the score to 14-0 with 2:15 left in the first quarter.
After another empty Cardinal possession resulted in a punt, Breathitt County used five-plays to travel 44 yards and score on a Trent 14 yard run. The Devon Rice point-after pushed the lead to
21-0, with 11:48 left in the first half.
"From the opening kickoff we didn't play with a lot of emotion or intensity to start the game," said Thompson.
That all changed two plays later, as Devin Sloan rolled 59 yards for
a touchdown, to close the score at 21-6 with 10:55 left in the second
period.
"We played so nervous early, but after our first score even if the result wasn't great, I thougth our effort was. We never quit from that point on, but we need to play with that type of focus and intensity from the get-go," said Thompson.
Richard Trent capped-off an 8-play, 80 yard scoring march with a 1 yard touchdown run, as Breathitt County owned a 27-6 lead, at the 7:33 mark of the half.
Wayne County answered back, after the teams traded fumbles, with a 9-
play, 65 yard drive that ended with a Devin Sloan 5 yard scoring run. The conversion run failed, leaving the score 27-12 with 2:51 left in the half.
Breathitt County failed to cover the ensuing kickoff, as Kyle Gehring raced down the field and recovered the ball at the Breathitt 35 yard line. Five plays later Wayne County received a break that has
avoided the squad most of the season.
Facing a 4th down and goal from the 5 yard line, Shawn Dishman's
pass was intercepted in the end zone and the Bobcat that was
returning it was leveled by Travis Pace and fumbled the football back
to the Cards, as Dishman scooped the ball at the 8 yard line, only to
race to the end zone untouched for a score.
"Any play that features two turnovers during it is going to be wild,
but finally a break going our way," said Thompson.
The conversion failed leaving the score 27-18, with 1:11 remaining
in the half.
That was more than enough time for Richard Trent and the Bobcats.
Trent had runs of 7 and 2 yards, plus completions of 34 and 27 yards
to Wes Noble, the last coming in the end zone, at the :02 mark.
"That just can't happen period. We have all the momentum and get the
football to start the second half, but the other play that killed us
was the 34 yard completion," said Thompson.
Breathitt County owned a 33-18 halftime advantage.
The Cards appeared ready to battle right back to open the second
half, as Shawn Dishman connected with Kyle Gehring for a 46 yard
completion, just after a Devin Sloan 36 yard kickoff return. Wayne
County had a first and goal from the 3 yard line, but was stopped
short from the goal-line on 4-plays and turned the ball over on
downs. The Bobcats raced 99 yards, in just 3 plays, scoring on 9
Richard Trent 19 yard touchdown run. The conversion failed leaving
the score 39-18, with 7:03 left in the third quarter.
Trent added his sixth and final score of the night, at the 1:26 mark
of the third period, completing a 31 yard touchdown pass to Josh
Fletcher. The extra-point pushed the lead out to 46-18, but Fletcher
would haunt the Cards again less than 2 minutes later.
After Wayne County was forced to punt, Breathitt County needed only
2 plays to race 78 yards and score on a Josh Fletcher 45 yard
touchdown run. The extra-point left the score at 53-18, with 11:43
left in the game.
"Breathitt County has a really good football team and on offense it
all starts with Richard Trent. He makes plays running and throwing
the football, plus he has some nice weapons like the Fletcher kid
around him," said Thompson.
Wayne County added the game's final score on a Devin Sloan 8 yard
touchdown run, which capped off a 6-play, 56 yard drive. Shawn
Dishman completed the conversion pass to Travis Pace, which left the
final score 53-26, as neither team would score over the remaining 9
minutes.
"Worst feeling as a head coach is facing your seniors after their
last game. We work in the weight-room, spring practice, then summer
workouts, plus all fall ad its all over. I appreciate our seniors and
what they sacrificed for our program, this wasn't how we wanted it to
end, but they never quit," said Thompson.
The win advances Breathitt County into a second round home date with
Casey County, while the Cards are left wondering what another
district win would have down for their postseason.
"We haven't capitalized on some opportunities during the regular
season, but the tie breaker sure has been tough. We have to go back
to work soon and get ready for 2011, we are in a new district and
have a new schedule," said Thompson.
For a look at 2011 see related story inside this edition of The
Outlook.