Monticello — The Wayne County Cardinals traveled to Russell County last Friday night,

to face the home standing Lakers, in an important non-district game for both

teams. The Cards entered with a 0-3 mark and were coming off a disappointing

30-14 loss at McCreary Central, while Russell County owned a 1-2 record

coming off a 50-26 road loss, at Pulaski County. The contest marked the 33rd

meeting between the two rivals, with the Cards winning the past three,

including a 35-27 decision at Jewell Field in 2008.

Russell County totaled 537 yards of offense and used a 29-6 second half

scoring surge, to claim a 50-34 win. The Lakers made the most of 4 Wayne

County turnovers in the final half and used the career night of freshman

runningback Nick Britt to improve to 2-2 on the season.

Britt scored on runs of 2 and 83 yards, plus added touchdown receptions

of 57, 32, and 78 yards, as the talented youngster led all plays with 244

yards of offense.

"We finally get our offense playing like we thought it could and then we

just have a tough night on defense. Britt is a very talented freshman back,

but we didn't tackle very well. We had too many turnovers and that just

killed us in the second half. We still need to play with more emotion and

focus. Once again we were able to do some good things, but we're lacking

consistency, " said Cards Head coach Shawn Thompson.

Britt finished with 4 catches for 172 yards and despite an 83 yard run

totaled 9 carries for 72 yards.

The Lakers were far from a one man wrecking crew, as junior fullback

Nathan Irvin and junior quarterback Martin Cross both had a big night in the

win. Irvin led the winners with 153 rushing yards on 21 attempts. Cross

completed 7 of 12 passes for a season high 201 yards with 3 scores, plus

added 11 rushes for 71 yards, that included a game-clinching 49 yard

touchdown run.

"We knew Russell County had some very good skill kids and they mix

things up well. We missed assignments and missed too many tackles. I think a

lot of our struggles start with our emotion and intensity levels, for

whatever the reason even when good things happen, we don't play with a lot

of emotion," said Thompson.

Wayne County wasted a huge offensive night of their own as the squad

totaled 433 yards of offense and 15 first downs. Senior D.J. Hall paced the

attack with a season best 182 rushing yards on 18 attempts, with 3

touchdowns. Zack Stephenson added 17 carries for 154 yards, as the squad

totaled 369 rushing yards, on 42 attempts.

"Our offense moved the ball very well, especially in the first half.

That was the first time since our scrimmage against Harlan County, that our

offense was in sync and really clicking, but we just shot ourselves in the

foot in the second half with turnovers," said Thompson.

Wayne County opened the game with a big play as Russell County fumbled

the kickoff, which setup the opening score. The Cards made the most of great

field position and needed just 2 plays to move 29 yards and score on a

Dustin Dodd 25 yard run. The extra-point failed leaving the score 6-0, with

11:06 left in the first period.

The Lakers grabbed the momentum right back on the next play, as Jordan

Best returned the kickoff 71 yards for a score to know the score 6-6. Cody

Bell booted the point-after as the hosts owned a 7-6 edge, just 70 seconds

into the game.

Wayne County couldn't answer on their second drive of the night, as

D.J. Hall 34 yard run moved the ball to the Russell County 38 yardline, but

the drive stalled.

The Lakers added to their lead, using 4 plays to march 94 yards and

scoring on a Martin Cross 57 yard touchdown pass to Nick Britt. The

extra-point pushed the score to 14-6, with 6:54 left in the opening frame.

Just over a minute later the scoring fireworks continued as D.J. Hall

scored on a 3 yard run, which capped off a 3-play, 72 yard march. A Zack

Stephenson 62 yard run was the key play of the series, as the conversion run

failed leaving the Lakers with a 14-12 lead.

After the teams traded punts, Russell County added to the lead at the

5:43 mark of the second period. The hosts used 11 plays to travel 58 yards

and score on a Nick Britt 2 yard run, as the point-after pushed the

advantage to 21-12.

D.J. Hall returned the ensuing kickoff 84 yards all the way the Lakers 3

yardline and on the first play from scrimmage pushed it on in on a 3 yard

scoring run. Zack Stephenson added the conversion run to close to Russell

County lead to 21-20, with 5:20 left in the half.

Wayne County reclaimed the lead just before intermission with a 10-play,

88 yard march, aided by 2 pass interference penalties. Stephenson completed

an 8 yard touchdown pass to Eric Rhule, on 4th down, then added the

conversion run, as the Cards owned a 28-21 halftime lead.

"Certainly a wild first half, but I thought with our last two drives and

the defensive stop in between that we had settled down. I thought we had the

momentum, but once again our turnovers just killed us in the second half,"

said Thompson.

Wayne County opened the second half with the football, but fumbled it

away on the kickoff. The Lakers totaled 3 plays and scored on a Martin Cross

32 yard strike to Nick Britt. The extra-point failed, leaving the Cards with

a 28-27 edge with 11:09 left in the third quarter.

Defense dominated the next five possessions as the teams traded two

fumbles and three punts.

Russell County reclaimed the lead for good at the 2:24 mark of the third

period, as Britt raced 83 yards for the go ahead score. Martin Cross

completed the conversion pass to Austin Hill, to push the hosts lead out to

35-28.

The Cards battled back and responded with a quick score of their own, as

a D.J. Hall 42 yard run, capped off a 3-play, 66 yard march. The two-point

conversion pass failed, leaving the Lakers with a 35-34 edge with 1:21

remaining in the third quarter.

Russell County continued the offensive onslaught on their next series

answering back with a score of their own less than 2 minutes later. Cross

found Nick Britt for a 78 yard touchdown pass and the extra-point pushed the

lead to 42-34 with 11:44 left in the game.

Wayne County would have three more opportunities to score, but the final

three drives of the night ended with two fumbles and an interception.

The Lakers sealed the win with the final score of the night at the 2:17

mark of the fourth quarter.

Martin Cross scampered 49 yards on a keeper for a touchdown and Austin

Hill added the conversion run, to push the final score to 50-34.

"Our kids just have to keep their heads up and go back to work. We

played hard and keep giving effort, but just had too many mistakes to win.

The good thing about heading to district play is everybody is 0-0, so we all

have a fresh start," said Thompson.

The win was just Russell County's second against the Cards in the past

eight years, but improved the Lakers to 19-14 all-time in the rivalry that

dates back to 1969.

Up next for the Cards is the district opener on Friday night, at Garrard

County. The Golden Lions are 1-3 on the season and coming off an open week.

"Garrard County has one of the top rated players in Tyler Ray excellent

team speed, so it will be a tough challenge. They have some very good skill

kids and run some of the same stuff that Russell County does. We just have

to keep working hard and play with focus," said Thompson.



Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Friday night at Garrard County. For more

details on the match up see related story in this Outlook.