Devils too much

The Whitley County Colonels saw its 2005 season come to an end Friday night at Lexington Henry Clay. The Blue Devils opened its new Robert J. Bell Stadium with a 48-6 win over the Colonels.
The Blue Devils (10-1) scored the first four times they had the football. Henry Clay used its no huddle offense to perfection behind the play of quarterback Salin Simpson, the coaches’ son.
Simpson completed 22 of 34 passes for 314 yards and five touchdowns.
Prior to the game, senior Rod Johnson got the headlines for the Blue Devils and was definitely the player to stop. The Colonels did a nice job on Johnson, holding the Blue Devils star running back to 97 yards on nine carries. He did break away for two touchdowns in the win.
Johnson scored the first touchdown of the game with 8:22 on the clock from five yards out.
The wind proved to be a major factor in the game as the Blue Devils won the coin toss and elected to kick off with the wind to their back.
The Colonels started the game’s first possession at their own 22 yard line. Senior Ladale Rider got the first carry, a three-yard gain. A Henry Clay offsides pushed the ball up the field five yards, but the Colonels failed to pick up a first down after Mark Teague was hit with a one-yard loss and Rider was able to pick up one yard on third down.
Teague’s kick against the wind was downed at the Whitley County 42 yard line. Simpson hit on two straight passes for 25 yards. Johnson followed with a run to the five yard line and after Simpson missed his first passing attempt, the Devils scored on a running play to Johnson. Jacob Barney added the PAT and the host led 7-0.
Again with the wind to their back, Henry Clay sent the ball out of the end zone and made Whitley County start at their own 20 yard line.
Senior Cody Jeffries picked up a first down on carries of two and eight yards, but the Colonels turned the ball over at the 27 yard line when it was fumbled.
Simpson broke loose on first down and rambled 20 yards to the seven. From there he hit Clark Jeter and the Devils were ahead 14-0.
Whitley County started it’s third series from the 20 yard line as the kick went out of the end zone. Three plays later, the Colonels faced a third and 12 from the 18 yard line. Sophomore Jordan McCumbers was sacked at the 13 yard line.
Teague’s third punt covered 40 yards, but the Devils still started on the Whitley County side of the field at the 48. Simpson hit Sam Gardner and Jeter on passing plays of 13 and 26 to the Colonels nine yard line. He connected with Gardner on a 14 yard play with 3:28 left in the opening quarter to go ahead, 21-0.
Another short-lived drive that began at the 20 yard line stalled with :47 left. Teague’s punt pinned the Devils at their own 46 yard line. However, Johnson was quick to score, breaking away for a 54 yard run with :37 on the clock. Barney’s kick made it 28-0, still in the opening quarter.
Once the Colonels got the ball with the wind to their back, Whitley County played rather even with the Devils. They were outscored 20-6 in the final three quarters. Henry Clay outscored Whitley County 42-0 with the wind to their backs while facing the wind, it was a 7-6 ballgame. The final Henry Clay touchdown came on the first play of the fourth quarter.
Whitley County’s lone touchdown came in the final period after the Colonels put together a 68-yard drive in 11 plays. Jeffries and Rider did most of the damage. It was Jeffries scoring from 10 yards out with 4:11 left in the game.
The Colonels closed out the season with a 4-7 record and 3-3 record in district play.

Whitley Co. 0 0 0 6- 6
Henry Clay 28 7 7 6- 48
First Quarter
HC- Johnson, 5 run (Jacob Barney kick)
HC- Jeter, 7 pass from Salin Simpson (Barney kick)
HC- Gardner, 13 pass from Simpson (Barney kick)
HC- Johnson, 54 run (Barney kick)
Second Quarter
HC- Jeter, 14 pass from Simpson (Barney kick)
Third Quarter
HC- Minnifield, 38 pass from Simpson (Barney kick)
Fourth Quarter
HC- Gardner, 14 pass from Simpson (kick failed)
WC- Jeffries, 10 run (pass failed)