STATE RUNNER-UP

 The Whitley County Middle School Football team returned from Lexington Sunday as the Division One Middle School state runner-up after falling to Northern Pulaski 50-14 just one day after knocking off Bowling Green 20-14 in a dramatic finish.

“It was a good run for us,” Whitley County Coach David Bryant said. “We had a great season. We went 13-4, losing to the state champions twice, Bell County and Knox Central. We beat Bell County and Knox Central in the playoffs.”

“I am really proud of these kids,” Bryant said. “They really improved during the season.”

The Colonels defeated four teams before taking on undefeated Northern Pulaski in the championship game of the Kentucky Middle School playoffs. They knocked off Bell County and Knox Central on the road the first week of the playoffs then went to Martin County and rolled past Johnson County 38-6.

It was on to the state semifinals at Lexington Catholic Saturday where they took on Bowling Green, one of the state favorites.

Bowling Green took an 8-0 lead in the first quarter as the Colonels’ defense got off to a shaky start. The Colonels moved the ball 18 yards on their first possession, but eventually had to surrender the ball on downs.

However, Bowling Green’s second possession wasn’t so successful. A fourth down sack to the Purples’ quarterback left the Colonels in possession of the ball at their own 42-yard line.

Zach Mills then broke their the defense for what looked to be a 58-yard touchdown, but it was called back after a false start. Mills then led his team down the field with back-to-back carries of seven and 22 yards to set up a first-down inside the Bowling Green 34-yard line. Mills then had carries of six and eight yards to the Bowling Green 20-yard line.

Again the Purples’ defense stiffened and stopped Mills for a short loss. Facing a third-and-two from the 12-yard line, Tristan McKiddy took the ball down to the four-yard line. Three plays later Mills went in from one-yard out for the touchdown. Mills added the conversion on the run and the game was tied, 8-8 with 4:06 left in the half.

Bowling Green drove the ball down the field and tried a field goal just before the half ended. The kick failed and the teams went to the break tied.

The Colonels had a chance to take the lead early in the third quarter when Mills broke loose on a 52-yard run to the end zone, but the touchdown was called back and the Bowling Green defense held.

Bowling Green struck in the quarter to take a 14-8 lead in the game, but the Colonels answered with a drive of their own. The Colonels took the ball from their own 20-yard line and went 80 yards in eight plays to tie the game. The Colonels struck pay dirt on a fourth-and-seven from the 35-yard line.

Quarterback Luke Woods hit Tristan McKiddy on the final play for the 25-yard touchdown with 4:43 left in the game.

The Colonels had one more shot at scoring when they stopped Bowling Green on a quick three-and-out, but failed to reach the end zone on a short series. A Whitley County punt left the Purples with a shot to win the game in the final 2:59.

Bowling picked up a first down in the final seconds, but instead of running out the clock with :11 left, they took a time-out for another play. This time Mills was in the right place at the right time and picked off the Bowling Green quarterback at the 20-yard line. He broke a couple of tackles then went down the sideline for the game-winning touchdown.

“I just knew he was going to get caught at the one-yard line,” Bryant joked. “It was a great way to finish the game. The kids were thrilled to death.”