Kelly Weger
turned heads Friday night with a breakout performance. The 5’8”, 185 lb. senior
tailback sliced and diced his way to an 18 carry, 197-yard night---the highest
individual rushing total since Jaylon McPeak gained 149 yards in a 2015 game
against Glasgow. Weger’s big night combined with a stellar defensive effort
enabled Allen County-Scottsville to down Greenwood 27-7.
“This was a
great team win,” coach Brad Hood said. “We are improving. Our defense is
aggressive and physical and coming along really, really well. Our offense is
getting better and our quarterbacks are getting better. Our offensive line has
gotten better each week and they got better tonight. I am really proud of our
kids and the way they are fighting for each other.”
Weger was the
offense spark for the Patriots. Weger used his quickness, toughness, and
agility to provide Patriot fans with wow moments and be a thorn in the side for
a coach William Howard’s Greenwood Gators.
“Kelly’s such a
great kid,” Hood noted. “He is so coachable. He has worked so hard to get to
where he is at. He just keeps working. He runs the ball like he’s been shot out
of a canon. That young man, the way he comes to practice every day. The
way he works, fights and pushes himself. It’s a sight to see.”
Weger pushed the
Patriots to a 6-0 lead late in the first quarter. His 14-yard scoring run at
the 2:56 mark broke a scoreless game. Thorny Walker’s PAT was blocked.
After the
Patriots’ score, Greenwood followed with an eight-play drive. Gator quarterback
Zach Langevin scored early in the second period to tie the game. The PAT lifted
the visitors to a 7-6 lead.
Using the ground
game to move the ball, the Patriots capped a second scoring drive at the 4:34
point of the second. Sophomore signal-caller Trace McIntyre tossed a 17-yard
touchdown pass to senior fullback Peyton Huff. A scrambler and score by McIntyre
on the two-point conversion gave AC-S a 14-7 lead.
“Peyton’s not
overly fast but he has great vision,” Hood said. “When he gets out in the open
like that he is very sneaky and slippery. Peyton got the pass in the flat and
just took it in.”
Hood also
praised Huff for his play on the defensive side of the line.
“Peyton loves
playing linebacker,” Hood explained. “We told him in the spring that he had to
be our linebacker and that his offense would get limited some but we would try
and keep him involved. Right now, he is the heart and soul of our defense with
the way he is leading and the way he is playing.”
AC-S threatened
to add a third first half touchdown late in the galf before a pass interception
inside the Greenwood five-yard line ended the threat in the final first half
seconds. However, AC-S would score midway in the third period to take control
of the contest.
Weger took the
handoff at the Patriots own 39-yard line. The speedy back cut toward the
Patriot sidelines, beat a Greenwood defender to the sidelines, turned up field and
raced down the AC-S side line. His speed allowed him to pull away from the
pursuit to score, lifting AC-S to a 20-7 lead. Walker’s PAT gave the hosts a
two touchdown cushion.
The Gators
would threaten to score and get back in the game near the 8:00 mark of the
fourth but the Patriot defense answered the challenge. A fourth quarter
interception by Nathan Hogue ended the threat. Cayden Ross’s one-yard scoring
run at the 2:16 mark of the fourth lifted AC-S to the 27-7 win.
AC-S (3-0) will
now turn their attention to a clash with the Glasgow Scotties (3-0) Friday
night in Glasgow. The game will mark the 41st time the schools have met on the
gridiron with the Scotties holding a 31-9 series advantage.
“They are very
athletic, well coached, and well disciplined,” Hood said. “It will be a battle.
They will be the most talented bunch we have faced. They have athletes all
over.”
Glasgow
quarterback Tanner Abernathy completed 23 of 37 passes for 332 yards and four
touchdowns in the Scotties first two games---wins over Russellville and
Bardstown by a combined 70-7 score. Last week, Glasgow defeated Fort Campbell
37-0. Scottie back Nick Mitchell recorded 95 yards on the ground while
Abernathy threw for 120 yards on six of 11 passing. Abernathy also ran for 48
yards and scored TD’s in the air and on the ground.
margin-left:12.0pt;line-height:20.4pt;vertical-align:baseline'> The Patriots
will be looking to down the Scotties for a second consecutive year. Last
season, AC-S won a shootout 39-35. Kickoff Friday is slated for 7 p.m. at Hank
Royse Stadium.