BUT CARDINALS ESCAPE WITH 27-20 WIN
Crestwood – On a Friday the 13th – with a full moon, no less – the South Oldham Dragons nearly pulled off a major upset when pre-season district favorite Nelson County came to town as the Homecoming 2000 guest. But in the end, the Cardinal offense was too strong and too fast, and the Dragons fell by a mere touchdown.
After losing their District opener to Oldham County by 21 points, the Cardinals had ripped off three straight district wins, with easy victories over Bullitt Central, Meade County, and Shelby County. At 3-1 in district play, the Cardinals were trying to win their fifth consecutive district crown – but they trailed North Hardin and Oldham County, both 4-0 in district action. South, meanwhile, had evened their record at 2-2 in the district with a 22-12 win over Central Hardin the week before. The Dragons were locked in a tie for the fourth and final playoff berth with Meade County, and the Shelby County Rockets – who upset South Oldham just two weeks ago – were hot on their heels.
A two-touchdown favorite, the Cardinals took the opening kickoff and drove with ease to the Dragon 11 yard line for a first down. But on the very next play, the Dragons’ Frank Hepke intercepted a Ross Brown pass in the endzone and South turned away the threat. South then began a drive of their own, moving from their 20 to the Nelson County 11. But the drive fizzled, and Troy Schultz lined up for a 27 yard field goal attempt. As Schultz moved forward to kick, the holder, Michel Swartzentruber, pulled the ball up to his shoulder in his best "Statue of Liberty" imitation (anybody remember that play?). Frank Hepke circled around behind Swartzentruber and took the football and tried to pass, but was hauled down from behind by a Nelson County defender to end the Dragon drive.
The Cardinals then drove the ball almost 90 yards, scoring the first touchdown of the game on a one-yard plunge by fullback Jason Caldwell with 2:06 to go in the first period.
South responded on their next possession, driving the ball deep into Nelson territory. The drive appeared to stall at the Cardinal 20, when South faced a fourth and three situation. But Chris Moran carried for five yards to the fifteen to get the first down, and moments later, Hank Wolf scored from one yard out. Troy Schultz’ extra point tied the game at seven with 8:58 left in the half. The extra point was significant because the long snap was low. Somehow, Michel Swartzentruber managed to pull it out of the grass, just in time for Schultz – who has struggled on extra point kicks of late – to drill it through the uprights.
Jason Caldwell fumbled the ball back to South on the next series, but the Dragons had to punt the ball back with 4:02 left in the second period. This time, the Cardinals held onto the ball, driving 77 yards in 2:16. A personal foul against the Dragons gave Nelson a first down at the South 17, and Ross Brown hit a wide open Brian Downs on the next play for a touchdown to put Nelson on top again. The Cards led, 13-7, after the extra point was missed.
The Dragons then unveiled a nifty two-minute offense, going 80 yards for the tying score. Barry Hinkle got the TD on a bit of razzle-dazzle that the Dragons used to score on Nelson last year. James French completed a pass to Aaron Lysne, who lateraled to Hinkle, who then raced down the sideline. Hinkle somehow managed to avoid going out of bounds after taking a hit, and 41 yards later, he was in the endzone with just 22 seconds left in the half. Unfortunately, the Dragons’ extra point attempt failed, leaving the two teams deadlocked at 13 at intermission.
The first three possessions of the second half ended in punts. With 7:13 left in the third quarter, Nelson County took over at their own 45 yard line. Just 17 seconds later, Caldwell scored his second touchdown of the night on a 28 yard run. The PAT made it 20-13, Nelson County.
After the two teams traded punts, South started the fourth quarter with ball on their own 36 and 11:55 left in the game. Just 77 seconds later, Chris Moran burst through the middle for 55 yards and a touchdown. Schultz tied it with his kick.
But the Cardinals’ offense was simply too much for the Dragons in this game. Especially a Dragon defense that had been weakened by the loss of star linebacker Barry Hinkle, who left the game in the third period with an undisclosed leg injury and never returned. Starting at their own 30, the Cardinals mounted a four minute drive that culminated with an eleven yard touchdown pass from Ross Brown to Brian Downs for the go-ahead touchdown, putting Nelson up once again, 27-20.
This time, South had no answer.
The Dragons’ last possession went nowhere, as South went "three and out", punting from their own 23 yard line. Sophomore punter Derek Bowman – who is well on his way to re-writing the Dragon record for best punting average in a season – boomed a punt that traveled about 45 yards in the air, and then took a Dragon bounce – all the way to the Nelson County one yard line. The 76 yard punt gave the home team new hope, and two plays later, Nelson was on their own three, facing third and 8 with 3:33 left. But Ross Brown took the ball on a quarterback keeper for 16 yards and a first down, and Nelson was able to move the chains a few more times, allowing them to run out the clock on the Dragons and their upset hopes.
Nelson County improves to 5-3 overall, 4-1 in the district. South falls to 5-3 and 2-3.
Good news for South Oldham fans: Oldham County defeated Meade County, 28-21, and North Hardin blasted Shelby County, 35-0.
The other district game – matching the district’s two winless (in district play) teams – ended in Bullitt Central defeating Central Hardin, 36-28.
The Dragons’ next game is on the road against Meade County. A win by South would all but guarantee them fourth place in the district – assuming Shelby County doesn’t win both of their last two games, against Central Hardin and Bullitt Central.
WYKY’s next broadcast will be next Friday from Buckner, where the Oldham County Colonels and the North Hardin Trojans will put the district’s two undefeated (district) records on the line in the battle for first place.
The UNOFFICIAL WYKY 105.7 FM Stats:
South Oldham Nelson County
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Completions – Att. – INT |
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Individual Statistical Leaders:
Rushing:
South Oldham
Chris Moran 18 carries 148 yards 1 TD
Chauncey Wilson 4 carries 33 yards
Hank Wolf 5 carries 23 yards 1 TD
Barry Hinkle 2 carries 11 yards
Nelson County
Jason Caldwell 26 carries 199 yards 2 TDs
Ricky Primus 9 carries 131 yards
Ross Brown 8 carries 83 yards
Chris Donahue
10 carries 73 yards
Passing:
South Oldham – James French 6 – 12 – 0 1 TD
Nelson County – Ross Brown 3 - 7 - 1 2 TDs
Receiving:
South Oldham
Michel Swartzentruber 2 catches 28 yards
Frank Hepke 2 catches 14 yards
Barry Hinkle 2 catches 40 yards 1 TD
Nelson County
Brian Downs 3 catches 29 yards 2 TDs
District Standings
Overall District
Team Won Loss Won Loss
Oldham County 7 1 5 0
North Hardin 7 1 5 0
Nelson County 5 3 4 1
South Oldham 5 3 2 3
Meade County 5 3 2 3
Shelby County 2 6 1 4
Bullitt Central 2 6 1 4
Central Hardin 2 6 0 5
This Week’s Games:
South Oldham at Meade County
North Hardin at Oldham County
Bullitt Central at Shelby County
Central Hardin at Nelson County
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