Homefield loss

To win the Class 4A, Region 4, District 8, Whitley County coach Mike Campbell knew his team would have to go through the Madison Central Indians. The Colonels went through and around the Indians but when it was all said and done it was Madison Central that picked up a 34-7 victory over the Colonels to go 2-0 in district play.
Several Indians turned in outstanding efforts including Chase Hope, son of EKU coach, Danny Hope. Hope passed for three touchdowns in leading the Indians to an impressive win. Junior Skepple had two touchdowns and several long runs. Andrew Mathis finished out the game with two second half touchdowns on runs of eight and 35 yards to put the game away. He also had a three yard pass from Hope late in the second quarter.
Despite the 27-point loss, the Colonels played well at times. “We were never able to gel offensively,” said Campbell in his post-game show. “We had several opportunities that we did not capitalize on and you can’t do that.”
Turnovers was a key factor in the early going. Paul Warford, who may walk on at the University of Kentucky intercepted a Jordan McCumbers pass, which set up the first touchdown of the game. Skepple scored the first touchdown on a nine-yard pass from Hope.
Whitley County missed on a chance to score when senior Sean Rowe intercepted one of Hope’s passes but the Colonels couldn’t get the offense in gear against the Indians defense.
Down just 6-0 at the end of the first quarter, the Indians added two scores in the second period. The first came on a big play, a 59 yard pass to Skepple, Hope run in the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead.
The final score came on what appeared to be a fluke play. A Hope pass deflected off Ronnie Letcher and into the hands of Andrew Matthis, who went in from three yards out. That gave the Indians a 20-0 lead and a long road back for the Colonels.
The Indians scored in the third quarter to go ahead, 27-0 but Whitley County answered the TD with one of their own. Cody Jeffries scored on a four-yard pass from Jordan McCumbers.
The Colonels will go after their second win of the district schedule Friday night when they host the Montgomery County Indians. The Indians have not won a district game in two years but Campbell warned. “This is not a team you can take lightly.”

Madison Central 34, Whitley Co. 7
Madison Central 6 14 7 7- 34
Whitley County 0 0 7 0- 7
MC-Skepple, 9 pass from Hope (kick failed)
MC- Skepple 59 pass from Hope (Hope run)
MC- Mathis, 3 pass from Hope (kick failed)
MC- Mathis, 8 run (Blackburn kick)
WC- Cody Jeffries, 4 pass from Jordan McCumbers (Mark Teague kick)
MC- Mathis, 35 run (Blackburn kick)