UPSET SPECIAL

The 2010 Whitley County Colonels’ football team made history Friday night at Pulaski Southwestern. Not only did they beat the Warriors 45-0, it was the first time the Colonels had won a playoff game on the road.

But, more importantly, the win gives the Colonels a chance for redemption against the Harlan County Black Bears in the second round of the KHSAA football playoffs. The Colonels lost at Harlan County, 41-27, September 24.

It was a fumble-fest in the first quarter as Southwestern took the opening kickoff and was driving the ball down the field when the Warriors lost the ball. But, five plays later senior Jordan Singleton gave the ball back on a fumble at the Warriors’ 26-yard line.

It didn’t take long before Dustin Powell lost the ball with Cody Bramlett recovering. After it appeared the teams had settled down, Southwestern quarterback Logan Starnes was picked off by Singleton at the Whitley County one-yard line. A first down penalty on the Warriors gave the Colonels some breathing room at the six-yard line.

Cody Bramlett, who didn’t get to play in his “Senior Night” game against Rockcastle County, took it out on the Warriors as he led the Colonels down the field for their first touchdown of the game. Bramlett had 56 yards on five carries. His final run came at the Southwestern 23-yard line with 9:24 in the second quarter. Seth McCoy added the point after and the Colonels had a 7-0 lead.

Powell fumbled the kickoff and Tyler Sears was close enough to grab the ball for Whitley County at the Southwestern 27-yard line. The Colonels made the Warriors pay for the mistake. After being hit at the line of scrimmage, Bramlett took the second-down play 18 yards to the Southwestern nine-yard line.

A penalty pushed the ball back to the 14-yard line before Jordan Chute got three yards back on the ensuing play. However, a second motion penalty pushed the ball back to the 16-yard line.

Cody Bowlin had back-to-back runs of six yards and the Colonels faced a fourth-and-four from the four-yard line. Whitley County Coach Jim Black didn’t hesitate going for the touchdown. Bramlett answered the call, busting through the Southwestern defense for six points. McCoy’s extra-point try was blocked, but the Colonels had a 13-0 lead with 6:59 left in the half.

Southwestern missed on another opportunity to score late in the quarter when they drove the ball to the Whitley County 15-yard line, but a fumble killed the drive with 1:51 left in the half.

The Colonels (6-5) took command of the game after Singleton picked off another pass with 9:13 in the third period. It took just one play for Bowlin to run 67 yards to the end zone for a 19-0 lead.

Whitley County became unstoppable in the second half. Once the Colonels stopped a short Southwestern drive and got the ball back with 5:55 left in the quarter, Whitley County put together an eight-play drive that covered 61 yards. Quarterback Travis Inman scored from 31 yards out with 2:51 left to put the Colonels ahead 25-0.

With just :59 seconds left in the quarter Singleton picked off his third pass at the 25-yard line, but this time the senior took it all the way to the end zone for the score. McCoy added the PAT and the Colonels led 32-0.

The game continued to get worse for the Warriors when a fourth down punt went array. The center hiked the ball over the punter’s head. He was tackled at the seven-yard line. Two plays later Bowlin went in for the touchdown. The PAT made it 39-0 with 9:57 left in the game.

The Colonels put the exclamation point on the scoreboard when Josh Nichols scored from two yards out with 5:45 left in the game. The final drive saw a 21-yard run by Chute to the 20-yard line and a 17-yard carry to the two by Nichols.

“I didn’t see this coming,” Black said in his post-game show. “I am so proud of the kids. This was one of our goals, to get a road win in the playoffs.”

The Colonels will be back on the road Friday night when they head to old Cawood High School to play Harlan County. “That should be another tough game,” he added.

Whitley County 45, Southwestern 0

Whitley Co.            0   13   19   13- 45

Southwestern            0     0     0     0-   0

WC- Cody Bramlett 23 run (Seth McCoy kick)

WC- Bramlett 5 run (kick blocked)

WC- Bowlin 67 run (run failed)

WC- Travis Inman 31 run (run failed)

WC- Jordan Singleton 35 interception return (McCoy kick)

WC- Bowlin 1 run (McCoy kick)

WC- Josh Nichols 2 run (kick failed)