Shannon Hutchinson, Sports Writer
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.