END OF SEASON

 A very costly decision to go to the air instead of sticking to their solid ground game may have cost Whitley County a shot in this week’s region finals.

The Whitely County Colonels threw an interception on third down with the score tied at 34-all with 1:34 remaining in the fourth quarter. The interception led to the end of their season with a 40-34 loss to the Pulaski County Maroons.

Although the Colonels ended their season with disappointment and a 7-5 record on Friday night they fought a tough, neck-to-neck battle. A host of penalties and turnovers caused them to fall short.

"They are a very good team," Whitley County coach Jim Black said. "We knew it would be difficult to beat them. They did what they needed to do to win and we didn’t."

Early on in the first quarter Whitely County’s Cody Bramlett ran for a touchdown that gave the Colonels a quick 7-0 advantage over the Maroons. Pulaski County answered with a forty-two yard touchdown pass to Jordan Walden but after a failed two-point conversion the Colonels held their lead 7-6. With 1:32 left in the first quarter Bramlett continued to increase Whitley County’s lead with another rushing touchdown that put the Colonels up 14-6. However, the Maroons fought back with a thirty-one yard quarterback keeper by Zach Eastham that put them in goal line territory and followed with a quarterback keeper touchdown. After a failed extra point attempt, Whitley County maintained their lead 14-12 at the end of the first quarter.

In the second period of play the Colonels continued to expand their slight advantage on their first drive by totaling forty-eight rushing yards and ending with a five-yard touchdown run by Bramlett. With 10:50 left in the second quarter the Colonels held their biggest, but last lead of the game 20-12.

On Pulaski County’s following drive Eastman connected with R.C. White to tie the game at twenty a piece.

During Whitely County’s next drive they picked up three penalties including two false start penalties and an illegal procedure. After forcing the Colonels to turnover on downs Pulaski County’s Steven McQueen caught a sixty-yard touchdown pass that gave the Maroons their first lead of the game 27-20.

Defensively, both teams stepped up their play and held each other scoreless in the third quarter.

During the fourth quarter the Colonels offensive engine was fueled by a combination of rushing gains by Bramlett and Cody Bowlin. With 9:39 remaining in the game Bramlett rushed for a touchdown that ended the Colonels first drive of the quarter. Whitley County still trailed 27-26. Moments later Eastman answered for the Maroons with another quarterback keeper touchdown to seal Pulaski County’s advantage 34-26.

The Colonels continued to pick up penalties with two more defensive penalties being called against them during the last minutes of the fourth quarter.

"We didn’t play well," Jim Black said. "Turnovers killed us. We just cut ourselves short."

But offensively, Bramlett responded for Whitely County with a rushing touchdown and Bowlin added two extra points tie the game at 34-34.

Although the Colonels picked up momentum from a crowd of dedicated fans their

support wasn’t enough to bring them through. On third down Jamie Lebanion threw the costly interception that allowed the Maroons possession in the last moments of the fourth quarter. Eastman followed for the Maroons with a touchdown pass to Mikey Shepherd to give Pulaski County the 40-34 victory over the Colonels.

By air the Maroons ramped the Colonels with 420 passing yards but Whitley County’s ground game gave Pulaski a rough battle with 419 yards rushing.

"I have to give Pulaski credit," Black said. "It would have been easy for our boys to fold at any time but I kept asking the boys if they had character and they answered, yes I do. Even though you come out on the short end of the scoreboard that’s what makes you feel good. The kids did not quit on us tonight. I’m really pleased with them and proud of them for this year."

Black also expressed his discontent with the performance of the Colonels defense and concluded that the players needed to get a better grasp and understanding of man-to-man defense. But he also commended his senior class on what he called ‘a well played game.’

"The senior offensive line have just came and brought it every day of practice and really worked hard," Black said. "I’m truly going to miss those boys. Every single one of them contributed in their own way. Truly, we had a great senior class this year. Last year’s senior class was good but this year’s group was the core of a nucleus level. Great senior leadership from last year gelled really well with this year’s class."

Black credited his squad for turning around what he said could have a horrible season and said that his players have nothing to be ashamed of.

As for next season Black plans on replacing the Colonels offensive line and is confident that some of the players coming up will step up their play and become suitable replacements.

Black also added that he’d like to start as soon possible with training and preparing for next season. 

"We could actually get started on Monday," Black said. "We’re going to get in the weight room and start getting in the grove but I’m not going to kill them like I usually do during the year."

"Our kids showed a lot of heart tonight," Black concluded. "That’s the way we’ve raised them for four years and I am so proud of them. They made a fantastic run and this is a time that some of those kids will remember for the rest of their lives."

Pulaski Co. 40, Whitley Co. 34

Whitley Co.         14   6  0  14 — 34

Pulaski Co.         12 15  0  13 — 40

FIRST QUARTER

WC—Bramlet 30 run (Lebanion kick

PC—Walden 42 pass from Eastham (Kick failed

WC—Bramlet 53 run (Lebanion kick)

PC—Eastham 6 run (Conv. run failed)

SECOND QUARTER

WC—Bramlet 4 run (Conv. run failed)

PC—White 18 pass from Eastham (Abner conv. run)

PC—McQueen 60 pass from Eastham (Patton kick)

FOURTH QUARTER

WC—Chute 27 run (Conv. run failed)

PC—Eastham 15 run (Patton kick)

WC—Bramlet 1 run (Bowlin conv. run)

PC—Shepherd 15 pass from Eastham (Kick failed)

RUSHING—PC, Eastham 14-69 2 TD, Abner 4-28. WC, Bramlet 18-171 4 TD, Chute 9-77 TD, Bowlin 5-95.

PASSING—PC, Eastham 23-31 425 4 TD INT. WC, Lebanion 7-16 124 INT, Inman 0-1

RECEIVING—PC, White 8-89 TD, 6-121, McQueen 4-73 TD, Walden 3-101 TD. WC—Goins 3-41, Bramlet 2-47.