(by Don Meador, November 14, 2021)
A pass deflection, a key defensive stop, a gutsy play call, and a gritty team performance helped the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots carve a mark in Patriot football history.
Last Friday night, AC-S downed Franklin-Simpson 35-28 to claim a second consecutive District championship. The win moved the Patriots into the UK Orthopedics/Kentucky High School Athletic Association 4A quarterfinals---the third time in the 53-year history of the program that a Patriot team has been an elite eight participant. AC-S plays at Franklin County Friday.
“I’m so proud of these kids,” coach Brad Hood said. “We have been the underdog all year. We started off the season a little slow, but they never quit.”
Hood added that his team is where they are due in measure to the leadership of a senior class that has matured and bonded since middle school.
“This senior class went from an eighth grade class with low members to a bunch that has won the sixth district title in school history,” Hood stated. “Five years ago, nobody would have thought that.”
Last week’s result was made possible due to a near-perfect execution of the team’s game plan, big-time plays, and little things that went a long way. In addition, the outcome also hinged on the absence of multiple turnovers despite a wet and muddy field. A third huge factor was the heart of a Patriot team refusing to stand down against an improved Wildcat team looking to end their season.
The Patriots took the opening possession and quickly scored. After just 1:17 of action, Payton Cope found Colton Costello open for a nine-yard scoring pass. Thorny Walker’s PAT lifted AC-S to a 7-0 lead. The Wildcats countered with a scoring march of their own. With 7:13 left in the first quarter, Isaiah Rigsby capped the drive with a five-yard run. After the PAT, the game was deadlocked at seven.
AC-S responded with a second quick drive and score. Just over two minutes elapsed before Christopher Holland’s three-yard run and the PAT lifted the Patriots to a 14-7 lead. Back came the Wildcats. Omar Harrison scored at the 11:11 point of the second. After the conversion, the game was tied at 14. The Wildcats would be the next team to score. The visitors grabbed the lead after a 14-yard run by Luke Richardson at the 2:35 mark of the second.
At this point, the teams had combined for five touchdowns in the first half but the scoring was not over. Led by Cope, AC-S moved quickly toward the Wildcat’s endzone. Cope’s 42-yard pass to Costello pulled AC-S to within one, 21-20. Walker’s PAT try missed, leaving the Patriots down by one at halftime.
The first series of the second half for the Wildcats saw the visitors bolt toward the Patriot endzone. However, the AC-S defense established itself more-and-more as Franklin-Simpson marched toward the goal line. After the Wildcats moved inside the Patriots’ red zone, the Patriots held their ground and forced Franklin-Simpson to go for the first on a short fourth down play. However, Wildcat quarterback Richardson’s flank pass to a receiver could not be gathered in. AC-S took over on downs after the near seven-minute Franklin drive.
AC-S would answer with a march into the Wildcats’ red zone. However, Patriot penalties resulted in the Patriots going into retreat, leaving the team in a second-down and 41 yards to go position inside the four-minute mark of the third. After a short gain placed the ball at the Wildcats’ 32-yard line, Cope unleashed a pass to Jace Jackson. The speedy junior made the reception along the Wildcat sideline and broke free for a touchdown at the 3:03 mark of the third. A successful two-point conversion gave AC-S a 28-21 lead.
The next Patriot possession featured a call that will be talked about for a long time---for the right reasons. After the defense forced Franklin-Simpson into their only punt of the night, the Patriot offense faced a fourth down and one yard to go early in the final frame with the ball resting on their own 40-yard line.
With potentially the outcome hanging on the play call, Hood chose to trust his offense to pick up the first down. The trust paid off as the line did their job to allow the squad to move the chains. Approximately four minutes later, Cope scored on a 14-yard run. Walker’s PAT lifted AC-S to a 35-21 lead.
“I told my guys before the game that I was going to put 100% trust in them, and they needed to put 100% trust in me,” Hood said. “We could’ve punted, but I thought at that moment we needed to get the first down.”
However, the game was far from over. Franklin-Simposon needed only four plays to score and pull back within a touchdown with 5:38 left. After holding the Patriots on defense, the Wildcats regained possession and quickly moved toward the AC-S red zone.
Enter the fingertips of junior defensive back Dillon Sloan. Choosing to abandon their ball control run attack, the Wildcats looked to reach the end zone through the air. With the clock under four minutes, Richardson fired a pass near the goal line. Sloan sailed into the air and managed to bat the ball away from the projected target. As the ball glanced off Sloan’s hand, an alert Tanner Stinson grabbed the pigskin as it fell to the ground. His scoop interception---his second of the game, fifth of the season, and of the 12th of his career---brought possession back to the Patriots at their 20-yard line.
“Tanner has been so big for us the last several years,” Hood added. “When he plays corner, there's not many that will beat him off the ball. That helps because Hunter Krulik has done so good at safety. Dillion gives up inches on the other side. But he was able to get up and tip the ball away. What a play.”
Moments later, Cope broke through on a third down option run---a play that sealed the game for AC-S.
Cope’s capstone run ended a sensational night for both the team and himself. The junior completed 12 of 14 passes for 229 yards and three touchdowns. Cope also ran for 62 yards on 15 carries to finish with 291 all-purpose yards.
“Payton just needed time,” Hood explained. “He is leading the offense. He allows us to speed it up and go fast. He stays in control and doesn’t panic. He has improved so much. The way he reads the defense has allowed us to bring the option back.”
Colton Costello recorded four receptions for 94 yards and two touchdowns. Jax Cooper had four catches for 72 yards and rushed for 60 yards.
Defensively, five players led the way with everyone contributing at some point. Stinson finished with two picks, two pass breakups, and six total tackles. Krulik recorded seven solo tackles and three assisted tackles. Karson Gens also had seven solo tackles with Will Morre making six stops. Julyan McPeak was in on nine total tackles.
Behind the outstanding play of the Patriot offensive line, AC-S closed with 436 total yards of offense. The defense held the Wildcats to 319 total yards.
This week’s opponent is no stranger. Franklin County eliminated AC-S in the quarterfinals last year, 48-14 on their way to their state runner-up finish. In that game, the Flyers quarterback passed for 336 yards and three TD’s. However, this year, a new face is the signal-caller. Gavin Hurst has thrown for 971 yards and 11 touchdowns. On the ground, Kanan Moorman---who tallied 88 yards last year versus the Patriots----is averaging 103.8 yards per game and has scored 23 touchdowns.
The Flyers stand at 9-3 with their losses coming in a three-game stretch in September. Franklin County lost to undefeated 4-A Corbin (27-7), 6-A power Ballard (31-13), and unbeaten and unbeaten 5A power Woodford County (24-21).
Kickoff is scheduled for 7 p.m. (EST) Friday night. WVLE-FM will have broadcast coverage. Typically, Franklin County games are live streamed on the Frankfort Plant Board’s Facebook page.