Shannon Hutchinson, Sports Writer
Monticello — The Wayne County Cardinals hosted district rival Somerset, last Friday
at Jewell Field, in an important contest for both teams. The Cards entered
with a 2-5 mark overall, which included a 2-1 district tally and were coming
off a 41-12 road win over Jackson County. Somerset, ranked #2 in the latest
associated press Class 3A poll, owned a perfect 8-0 mark and was coming off
a 34-20 home win over Garrard County. The match up marked the 29th meeting
between the two schools, with the Jumpers owning a 22-6 series advantage,
including a 41-7 win in 2008.
Somerset was held to a season low 141 yards of offense, on 53 plays with
10 first downs, but a late first half touchdown run of Eric Manning from 34
yards out was all they needed, en route to a hard-fought 9-0 district win.
Manning, a 5-11, 160 lb. junior quarterback, completed 10 of 22 passes for
94 yards and totaled 10 carries for 16 yards, as the Jumpers improved to 9-0
while clinching the district championship.
The winner came in averaging nearly 40 points per game, but were limited
to 47 yards on the ground, in 31 attempts, as Wayne County showed one of the
finest defensive efforts in recent history.
"I really thought our kids played extremely hard on the defensive end
and this may be our best effort on defense since our playoff win over
Louisville Christian Academy four years ago. We tackled well, played our
zones and I thought we were able to stop their run, plus apply good pressure
on their quarterback. Unfortunely we didn't have a very good night on
offense and after watching the tape, one of our worst blocking efforts of
the season," said Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.
Otie Manning was held to just 14 rushing yards on 13 attempts, while
sophomore receiver Storm Wilson led all players with 5 receptions for 49
yards, as the Jumpers won despite being held to just 24 total yards in the
second half.
"We played on the short of the field most of the night, but I thought
our kids really battled. Eric Rhule, Dustin Dodd, Dagan Shelton and D.J.
Hall all had really, really good tackle nights, plus our pass coverage was
improved, so credit our ability to pressure as well. We were just a play or
two away from making things happen. The thing I told our kids after the game
is, it's a shame we haven't played defense with that type of focus and
effort all year," said Thompson.
Senior Eric Rhule paced the effort with 10 tackles, while Dustin Dodd
and Dagan Shelton tallied 9 total stops each. D.J. Hall added 7 tackles with
a sack, as Wayne County totaled a season high 4 quarterback sacks.
"We've played pretty good defense since the second half of the Garrard
County game and Somerset has a really good football team, so I'm just proud
of our kids effort. We have to build on this and get ready for a very
dangerous Taylor County squad," said Thompson.
The Cardinal offense was held to a season low 127 total yards, on 55
plays and finished with just 7 first downs. The unit picked up 6 of those
after halftime, led by the game best 73 rushing yards on 17 attempts of
senior running back D.J. Hall.
"Somerset is very big and strong up-front, plus their linebackers play
extremely fast. We didn't block very well or come off the football like
we're capable. Give credit to Somerset's defense, but we also missed some
assignments and had some opportunities," said Thompson.
Senior quarterback Zack Stephenson finished with 19 carries for 7 yards
and completed 3 of 17 passes for 53 yards with an interception, as the Cards
finished the night with 1 turnover, plus a punt snap botched for a safety.
"We were able to take care of the football pretty well, but had another
punt team mishap. We were able to get 7 of 8 punt attempts off, and the one
we're the deepest on our side of the field led to the safety. We have to
field punts and quit losing so much yardage on both sides of the punt game,
our inability to fair catch probably cost us 50 yards, or so in this game,"
said Thompson.
Defense dominated most of the first half as the squads traded 11 empty
possessions in a row, before the only touchdown of the night.
Somerset had a drive to the Wayne County 6 yardline late in the first
quarter, but plays of negative 2 yards and a sack for minus 13 with an
incompletion, stalled the drive back at the 21 yardline.
The Cards used a Stephenson 33 yard pass to Eric Rhule to move into
Somerset territory, but the Jumpers 35 yardline was as close as the hosts
would get in the opening half.
The Jumpers continued to win the battle for field-position and that
eventually led to their only touchdown of the game. Somerset used 2 plays,
to travel 34 yards and score on an Eric Manning 34 yard keeper, up the
middle of the field. Justin Bevins booted the extra-point to make the score
7-0, with just :45 remaining in the first half.
"We put our defense in a bad spot multiple times and against an offense
of Somerset's caliber that's just asking for trouble. Even though they
scored we're right in it just down 7-0 at halftime," said Thompson.
Wayne County's lack of offense and the special teams punt unit provided
the only points of the second half. An offensive penalty backed the punt
attempt to the end zone and an errant snap sailed through the end zone, as
Somerset owned a 9-0 advantage with 7:43 left in the third quarter.
A Cardinal interception gave Somerset their best chance to score in the
third quarter, as Eric Manning picked off a pass and returned it to the
Wayne County 29 yardline. After a quick first down the Jumpers next 4 plays
produced negative 5 yards and a turnover on downs.
"We had some chances to fold our tents, but to our kids credit they
refused to give in, or allow anything cheap," said Thompson.
The Cards last two drives of the game were their best two of the night,
but a 12 play drive stalled at the Somerset 27 yardline with just under 4
minutes to play and an 8 play march also ended at the visitors 39 yardline.
"I wish we could've stuck one of those in and made things interesting,
but we didn't. This is one of those games that a few plays the other way,
well we can't play the what if game. We have to go back to work and prepare
for a Taylor County team that's certainly playing their best football of the
season," said Thompson.
Wayne County, at 2-6 overall and 2-2 in league action faces last year's
number one seed Taylor County. The Campbellsville version of Cardinals was
the only team in the district to win a playoff game in 2008 and could secure
a home playoff berth with a win Thursday night, after last weeks 26-12 upset
win over Garrard County.
"Coach Turpin always does a lot of unique things on offense and special
teams, so it will take a huge, huge focused effort," said Thompson.
For details on the matchup see related story inside this edition of The
Outlook.