By SHANNON HUTCHINSON Sports Writer
CNHI
10-20-10 — The Wayne County Cardinals travel to district foe Taylor County,
this Thursday night, in a match up with major playoff implications.
Wayne County can secure a state playoff berth with a win, while a
loss coupled with a Casey County win over Garrard County would move
Taylor County in and take the Cards out.
"We are the only game in the state on Thursday, so that's always a
kind of unique deal, plus we have to win to assure our spot in the
postseason. We are in a must win situation, so I guess our playoffs
start Thursday night," said Cards head coach Shawn Thompson.
Wayne Count enters the match up with a 3-5 record overall and 2-2
district mark, while Taylor County is 1-8 overall with a 1-3 district
tally. The contest marks the 14th meeting in the rivalry that dates
back to 1971, with the local Cardinals owning a 10-3 series edge,
including a 14-7 win in 2009.
Wayne County has won six straight games in the series, but all six
wins have been by a touchdown, or less. The Cards have posted wins of
28-22, 20-19, 28-21, 41-36 and 14-7, with each game coming down to
the final play.
"Taylor County is not an intense rivalry in that we've not played
every year, or a border rival, but every time we play it is an all
out battle. Every year no matter the records, or which team is the
favorite, it comes down to the team that makes the fewest mistakes.
It is traditionally a pretty well played game with both teams getting
after it," said Thompson.
The 2010 Taylor County squad, under the direction of first year year
head coach Curtis Cotton, has certainly struggled on both sides of
the ball. The Redbirds are averaging just under 8 points per game and
have been shutout five times this season.
"Offensively they have a couple of good backs in Cody Newton and
Thomas Smith. The biggest problem has been turnovers, which we know
to well can just kill an offense. I think they have some pretty good
skill kids, so our defense will have to have a good night swarming
the football," said Thompson.
The Redbirds are allowing 38-5 points per game, which should give
Wayne County's offense a chance to bounce-back after a tough outing
at Somerset.
The Cards totaled 61 plays for a season low 90 yards last week and
was held to 0 rushing yards on 41 attempts.
"I don't think that's ever happened to us before to end up without a
rushing yard for an entire game, but Somerset it the top ranked team
in 3A for a reason. We need to get healthy in the backfield, we lost
four running backs at Somerset, so our health is a major key," said
Thompson.
Kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m. Thursday night at Taylor County High
School's Cardinal Stadiums.
"We still control our own destiny, so that's all we can ask for.
Hopefully we can go over there in a tough environment and put
together 48 minutes of focused, hard-nosed football," said Thompson.