|
|
| Indians corral Colts to stay in district race |
|
|
10/10/2014
By Dan Manley
Advocate Sports Editor
The Montgomery County High School football team picked up a crucial district win Friday night at Nicholasville.
The Indians gave up an early 14-0 lead but came up with a long scoring pass to break a tie in the second half to post a 27-20 win over West Jessamine.
The victory improved the Indians record to 2-4 overall and more importantly to 1-1 in district play where they remain in contention for a playoff spot and perhaps a home playoff game.
Unfortunately, in the process of the victory Friday night the Indians suffered another season-ending injury as senior Joe Chism suffered a broken leg and will miss the remainder of the season.
“Pretty devastating for our football team on top of the previous injuries we’ve had,” said Coach Dan Gooch. “But this is a tremendously resilient bunch of young men and I’m sure we’re going to move forward and someone else is going to step up and give us a chance to be successful.”
Chism was among the leaders in the state in pass receiving this year and was a two-way starter for the Tribe.
The Indians had already lost senior linebacker Jared Johnson, junior linebacker Mason Gooch and junior tackle Shelby Combs to sesason-ending injuries along with the other one and two-game setbacks they’ve had.
But Friday night the Tribe’s defense was able to finally solve a bone-crushing West Jessamine ground game in the second half to pull out the win.
The Indians scored for the final time with just :5 seconds left in the third quarter when junior Cody Parsley caught a short hitch route along the sideline and eluded defenders up the sideline on a 74-yard play that broke up a 20-20 tie.
West Jessamine would reach the Indians’ 32 yard line and then the 34 yard line in fourth quarter drives, each time to be stopped on downs.
Then senior Brian Wagers took over running the football in the final three minutes of the game to help the Tribe run out the clock.
The game started out like it would be an easy night for the Indians. They stuffed the Colts’ offense on the first series and after an exchange of fumbles on back-to-back plays the Indians had the football at the Colt 41.
After picking up one first down the Indians were faced with third and 12 from the 32 yard line when junior quarterback Art Walker hooked up with Chism for the first touchdown of the night with Braden Powell’s extra-point making it 7-0.
The Colts were three and out on their next possession, as well, and the Indians went 57 yard in 12 plays, taking almost five minutes off the clock in the process as Chism scored on a sweep around left end to make it 14-0 with just :12 left in the opening period.
The Colts, limited to a net of minus 13 yards on seven offensive plays in the opening quarter, changed their offense.
West Jessamine went from a spread formation to a Super I with a trio of players lined up behind quarterback Marcus Jones that weight 263, 240 and 200 pounds, respectively.
It was a game-changer as the Colts marched 66 yards in seven plays and 64 yards in eight plays on their next two possessions for touchdowns.
Fortunately for the Indians they went 72 yards in seven plays in between with Braxton Hopkins catching an 18-yard scoring pass on a post pattern for the TD.
Walker had runs of nine and six yards and completed another 18-yard pass to Hopkins and a nine-yarder to Parsley during the drive.
That sent the Indians into the halftime break leading 20-13 but looking as if they were in trouble with Chism having already suffered the broken leg and the West Jessamine offense seemingly unstoppable.
The Indians had also benefitted from a 44-yard punt to the West Jessamine two yard line that may have prevented another Colt TD as the Tribe held West Jessamine at the MCHS 23 as the half ended.
West Jessamine went 59 yards in 11 plays on their first possession of the second half to tie the score with 6:49 to play in the third.
But the Indians were able to stop the next drive on downs at their own 31 yard line and after a penalty Walker and Parsely hooked up on the scoring pass that proved to be the game-winner.
After that the Indians’ defense was able to make stops at their own 32 and 34 yard lines to preserve the victory.
On West Jessamine’s final drive, linebacker Colton Miller fought off blockers to stop Daniel Snider for a one yard gain and then on the next play defensive end Chase Parker dropped him for a one yard loss.
Snider finished the night with 44 carries for 227 yards, almost all of the Colts’ 283 yards of total offense. The Indians had 203 yards passing and 85 yards rushing while West Jessmamine did not complete a forward pass in the game.
|
|
|
|
|