LANCASTER¿— When the teams met a month ago, Garrard County held Bourbon County’s high-powered offense in check in a 28-8 loss.
But being good just isn’t going to cut it against the Colonels on Friday when the Golden Lions (7-4) head to Paris to face No. 3 Bourbon in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.
“We have to go from playing good defense to playing great defense,”¿Garrard coach Mark Scenters said. “We have to have to be very disciplined, have the best tackling performance that we've had this year and we have to get as many defenders to the football each and every play as possible.”
Bourbon, which is enjoying its best season ever at 11-0 under first-year coach and Garrard graduate John Hodge, scored on three big-play offensive touchdowns and one defensive touchdown in its win on Oct. 5 in Lancaster. Otherwise, Garrard limited the Colonels and held them three touchdowns below their scoring average.
But Scenters said knowing how Bourbon operates may not be too much of an advantage heading into this game.
“I am sure that we learned some things from the first game, but I am also sure that the Bourbon County staff learned a lot from that as well,”¿ he said. “I'm not certain that it gives either team an advantage overall.”
Bourbon comes into the game off a 56-12 first-round win over Lewis County. On the season, the Colonels are averaging 49 points and 375 yards per game.
Kentayvous Hopkins had an 86-yard touchdown run against Garrard the first time, and finished with 156 yards on 16 carries. On the season, Hopkins has rushed for 1,461 yards and 22 touchdowns and has 10 catches for 245 yards and six more scores.
Hopkins may be the team’s star, but Scenters said the Colonels have plenty of weapons.
Quarterback Dalton Pope threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns the first game, and has 1,185 yards passing with 17 scores and just two interceptions. He also has rushed for 478 yards and eight touchdowns. Charles Johnson had a 56-yard touchdown catch against Garrard, and has 14 catches for 370 yards and four touchdowns. Jaxson Hilander has a 72-yard scoring catch in the first game and has caught 13 passes for 366 yards and five scores.
“Pope has been a tremendous addition to this team as well as Johnson,”¿Scenters said. “Combine those with known playmakers in Hilander and (Joey)¿Gomez, as well as the sophomore tight end (Tyler) Ishmael. They just have so many weapons offensively and can hurt you so many ways.”
Gomez has a 67-yard interception return for a score in the first meeting, and helps lead a defense which is allowing just 12 points and 175 yards per game.
Bret Holman had 16 tackles the first game, while Dakota Mitchell and Jake Fooks had 10 each in holding Garrard to 228 yards of offense. Mitchell has 134 tackles on the season and Holman 115 with a fumble return for a touchdowns.
The Bourbon defense has forced 31 turnovers. The Colonels has 16 interceptions and returned five of those for scores. Johnson has picked off seven passes and taken three of them back for touchdowns. Gomez and Hopkins also have interception returns for scores.
They have also recovered 15 fumbles, three of which turned into touchdowns.
“Their linebacking corp is as talented as you will see, no matter what classification,”¿Scenters said. “Holman and Mitchell are so good at playing down hill and stuffing the run on the inside and then athletes like Hopkins and Gomez at the outside linebacker spots.
“Then again, Johnson at the corner position as well as he is so dangerous as a punt/kick returner. Just a very, very talented football team.”
Garrard, which beat Russell 12-7 last week, comes in averaging 25 points and 312 yards per game.
Noah Williams has 1,158 yards rushing with eight touchdowns. Bill Abney has thrown for 880 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions, and has 258 yards rushing with five scores.
Garrett Caudill has 275 yards rushing with five touchdowns and has caught 14 passes for 237 yards and two scores, Jacob Smith has 12 catches for 270 yards and three touchdowns, Jaylan McPherson has 379 yards rushing with six touchdowns and Layne Cumby has 14 catches for 148 yards and a scored and has 191 yards rushing with two touchdowns.
Scenters said his team is better offensively then it was when the Lions played Bourbon, but said they need a great effort this week and cut down on mental mistakes.
“I believe that we continue to improve of both sides of the ball each week,”¿he said. “It is going to take a great effort by our entire offensive unit to put points on the board. We have to block better, protect the football better and eliminate costly penalties to improve from the first game.”
What Garrard does have going for it this week is the Lions know how to wina road game. Scenters said that mental toughness will hopefully pay dividends Friday.
“Last week’s road playoff win was a great hard fought win,”¿he said. “Our young men continue to play better and better each week and we hope to continue that.”
But being good just isn’t going to cut it against the Colonels on Friday when the Golden Lions (7-4) head to Paris to face No. 3 Bourbon in the second round of the Class AAA playoffs.
“We have to go from playing good defense to playing great defense,”¿Garrard coach Mark Scenters said. “We have to have to be very disciplined, have the best tackling performance that we've had this year and we have to get as many defenders to the football each and every play as possible.”
Bourbon, which is enjoying its best season ever at 11-0 under first-year coach and Garrard graduate John Hodge, scored on three big-play offensive touchdowns and one defensive touchdown in its win on Oct. 5 in Lancaster. Otherwise, Garrard limited the Colonels and held them three touchdowns below their scoring average.
But Scenters said knowing how Bourbon operates may not be too much of an advantage heading into this game.
“I am sure that we learned some things from the first game, but I am also sure that the Bourbon County staff learned a lot from that as well,”¿ he said. “I'm not certain that it gives either team an advantage overall.”
Bourbon comes into the game off a 56-12 first-round win over Lewis County. On the season, the Colonels are averaging 49 points and 375 yards per game.
Kentayvous Hopkins had an 86-yard touchdown run against Garrard the first time, and finished with 156 yards on 16 carries. On the season, Hopkins has rushed for 1,461 yards and 22 touchdowns and has 10 catches for 245 yards and six more scores.
Hopkins may be the team’s star, but Scenters said the Colonels have plenty of weapons.
Quarterback Dalton Pope threw for 173 yards and two touchdowns the first game, and has 1,185 yards passing with 17 scores and just two interceptions. He also has rushed for 478 yards and eight touchdowns. Charles Johnson had a 56-yard touchdown catch against Garrard, and has 14 catches for 370 yards and four touchdowns. Jaxson Hilander has a 72-yard scoring catch in the first game and has caught 13 passes for 366 yards and five scores.
“Pope has been a tremendous addition to this team as well as Johnson,”¿Scenters said. “Combine those with known playmakers in Hilander and (Joey)¿Gomez, as well as the sophomore tight end (Tyler) Ishmael. They just have so many weapons offensively and can hurt you so many ways.”
Gomez has a 67-yard interception return for a score in the first meeting, and helps lead a defense which is allowing just 12 points and 175 yards per game.
Bret Holman had 16 tackles the first game, while Dakota Mitchell and Jake Fooks had 10 each in holding Garrard to 228 yards of offense. Mitchell has 134 tackles on the season and Holman 115 with a fumble return for a touchdowns.
The Bourbon defense has forced 31 turnovers. The Colonels has 16 interceptions and returned five of those for scores. Johnson has picked off seven passes and taken three of them back for touchdowns. Gomez and Hopkins also have interception returns for scores.
They have also recovered 15 fumbles, three of which turned into touchdowns.
“Their linebacking corp is as talented as you will see, no matter what classification,”¿Scenters said. “Holman and Mitchell are so good at playing down hill and stuffing the run on the inside and then athletes like Hopkins and Gomez at the outside linebacker spots.
“Then again, Johnson at the corner position as well as he is so dangerous as a punt/kick returner. Just a very, very talented football team.”
Garrard, which beat Russell 12-7 last week, comes in averaging 25 points and 312 yards per game.
Noah Williams has 1,158 yards rushing with eight touchdowns. Bill Abney has thrown for 880 yards and seven touchdowns with two interceptions, and has 258 yards rushing with five scores.
Garrett Caudill has 275 yards rushing with five touchdowns and has caught 14 passes for 237 yards and two scores, Jacob Smith has 12 catches for 270 yards and three touchdowns, Jaylan McPherson has 379 yards rushing with six touchdowns and Layne Cumby has 14 catches for 148 yards and a scored and has 191 yards rushing with two touchdowns.
Scenters said his team is better offensively then it was when the Lions played Bourbon, but said they need a great effort this week and cut down on mental mistakes.
“I believe that we continue to improve of both sides of the ball each week,”¿he said. “It is going to take a great effort by our entire offensive unit to put points on the board. We have to block better, protect the football better and eliminate costly penalties to improve from the first game.”
What Garrard does have going for it this week is the Lions know how to wina road game. Scenters said that mental toughness will hopefully pay dividends Friday.
“Last week’s road playoff win was a great hard fought win,”¿he said. “Our young men continue to play better and better each week and we hope to continue that.”
