SHOCKING LOSS

 A disappointed Whitley County Coach Jim Black walked off the Lexington Catholic High School football field Friday night after losing to the Knights, 43-33.

“We just ran out of gas,” Black said after the game. He was referring to the Colonels second-effort.

After leading by 19 points entering the fourth quarter, the Knights roared back in the final 10:18 to score 29 points and win the season opener, 43-33.

It all started with a pair of penalties that allowed the Knights to get into Colonel territory and two plays later Greg Raglin went 17 yards for the score. The drive took less than a minute and got the Knights fired up.

Things continued to get worse for the Colonels when the onside kick went off a Whitley County player and into the hands for a defender at the Colonels 42 yard line. Three plays later quarterback Nic Ward went 15 yards for another score. Two touchdowns in two minutes.

Once the momentum was with Lexington Catholic, there was no stopping the Knights. The Colonels had a chance to drive in for a score on its next possession but a Travis Inman pass was intercepted.

The Knights didn’t waste any time getting the ball down the field behind Raglin, who scored his second touchdown in a matter of minutes from eight yards out with 5:28 left in the game. The Knights went for two as Ward hit Lee Ramsey in the end zone for a 36-33 lead.

With the Colonels backed up to the 12-yard line, Whitley County drove the ball down the field against the Knights. Cody Bowlin broke loose for a 20-yard gain and a personal foul put the ball on the Colonels 42-yard line. Senior Josh Wynn followed with runs of three and eight yards to get the Colonels inside Lexington Catholic territory.

Just when it looked as if Whitley County might turn up the momentum with a 20-yard run to the Catholic 22, a chop block was called and a 15-yard penalty and loss of downs left the Colonels facing a fourth down.

Inman, the back-up quarterback, rushed the play and was intercepted with 1:36 left in the game. Instead of sitting on the clock, the Knights went in for the score. Raglin broke loose on a 44-yard TD to put the digger in the back of the Colonels.

For three quarters it was all Whitley County. In the first quarter, the Colonels recovered two fumbles that led to touchdowns. Alex Patrick scored on a 24 yard run with 10:18 in the opening period but a 15-yard penalty was tacked onthe kickoff and the Knights got the ball at the Whitley County 43-yard line.

The Knights tied the game with a Ward pass to Ramsey and a Benton Hupman kick with 6:33 in the period.

The Colonels had to start at the their own 14-yard line on the ensuing drive but failed to pick-up a first down in the series. The Colonels had to overcome three flags on the drive. On the punt, Ramsey lost control of the catch and fumbled. Patrick was there to recover for the Colonels. Two plays later Patrick went 12 yards for the go-ahead touchdown.

The second quarter saw Wynn break loose on a 62-yard run. The PAT by Jamie Lebanion gave the Colonels a 21-7 score.

Lexington Catholic answered with a touchdown before the half ended, but the Colonels took a 21-14 lead at the break.

Whitley County got on the scoreboard in the third quarter when Cody Bramlett went up the middle for a three-yard TD.

Midway through the quarter, senior quarterback Jamie Lebanion went out with a shoulder injury and Inman was called on to take over.

He hit Justin Goins on a 75-yard pass play early in the fourth quarter to give the Colonels a 33-14 lead with 10:18 left in the game. The run for the extra point by Jordan Chute failed.

Whitley County rushed for 495 yards on the night while Lexington Catholic accounted for 395 total yards.

Lexington Catholic 43, Whitley Co. 33

Whitley Co.            14  7  6    6- 33

Lex. Catholic              7  7  0  29- 43

WC- Alex Patrick 24 run (Jamie Lebanion kick)

LC- Lee Ramsey 3 pass from Nic Ward (Benton Hupman kick)

WC- Patrick 13 pass from Jamie Lebanion (Lebanion kick)

WC- Josh Wynn 62 run (Lebanion kick)

LC- Greg Raglin 17 pass from Ward (Hupman kick)

WC-Cody Bramlett 3 run (run failed)

WC- Justin Goins 75 pass from Travis Inman (run failed)

LC- Raglin 17 run (Hupman kick)

LC- Ward 10 run (Hupman kick)

LC- Raglin 8 run (Lee Ramsey pass from Ward)

LC- Raglin 44 run (Hupman kick)