COLONELS ROLL

 Whitley County Coach Jim Black was pleasantly surprised at the outcome of Friday night’s win over the Rockcastle County Rockets, 42-6.

“We played the perfect game and we are still getting better each week,” Black said.

Senior Alex Patrick, who led the Colonels in rushing with 79 yards on nine carries, started the onslaught with a two-yard run early in the first quarter. He finished the scoring in the fourth quarter with a 12-yard run

In between the Colonels rushed for 286 yards on the ground while holding the Rockets to 118 yards on 42 carries. They held star running back Clarke Rowe to 95 yards on 25 carries and John Saylor to just 21 yards on nine attempts.

 Five different Colonels scored in the lopsided win with Justin Goins scoring on a 49-yard pass from senior quarterback Jamie Lebanion. Josh Wynn scored on a 25-yard pass play followed by a 56-yard run by Cody Bowlin. Jordan Chute also scored on a 36-yard run.

Lebanion hit on five of six passes for 130 yards and two touchdowns. Bowlin had four carries for 70 yards.

The Colonels will host the South Laurel Cardinals in the first-round of the playoffs Friday night. The Cardinals finished the season with a 4-6 record and 2-2 in district play. They defeated Mercer County 26-21 and Lincoln County 29-21 to gain the third seed.

Whitley County, ranked 23^rd in the state, according to the Dave Cantrell Ratings and seventh in both the Herald-Leader and News Journal rankings will come into the game a heavy favorite to beat the Cardinals.

“Anything can happen in the playoffs,” said Black. “It’s survive and advance at this time of the year. You have to do anything you can to win.”

Black feels his team is playing better. “We beat a good Rockcastle County team last week and a good Perry Central team the week before. I think we are playing better.”

“However, you can’t count anyone out,” said Black. He noted the keys to the game for the Colonels. “We need to play sound defense, need to contain their running back Tyler Vaughn, eliminate their big plays and control the ball.”

“We have to play our game,” he added. “They are a very improved football team. They have the capability to make the big plays that beat you.”

Kickoff for the first-round game is at 7:30 p.m.

Whitley Co. 42, Rockcastle Co. 6

Whitley Co.            8   14   13   7- 42

Rockcastle            0     6     0   0-   6

WC- Alex Patrick 2 run (Cody Bramlett run)

WC- Justin Goins, 49 pass from Jamie Lebanion (Lebanion kick)

RC- Clark Rowe 5 pass from Dustin Bishop (run failed)

WC- Josh Wynn 25 pass from Lebanion (Lebanion kick)

WC- Cody Bowlin 56 run (Lebanion kick)

WC- Jordan Chute 36 run (kick failed)

WC- Patrick 12 run (Lebanion kick)