Kentucky gets third straight Border Bowl win Saturday

Williamsburg’s Chris Helton, Collin Lamoree and Jefferson Patrick with Yellow Jackets Head Coach Jerry Herron

Whitley County’s Kevin Simpson, Austin Ysidro and Austin Paul

Corbin’s Dalton Anderson and Zack Ingle

The temperatures were cool, but the crowd was hot for Saturday’s Eighth Annual Border Bowl at James H. Taylor II Stadium on the campus of the University of the Cumberlands in Williamsburg.

The Kentucky All-Star team came into the game looking to even things up at 4-4 all-time with the Tennessee All-Stars, and that is exactly what they did, picking up their third consecutive victory, a thrilling 33-32 win.

This year’s Border Bowl featured eight local players in Corbin’s Zack Ingle (OL) and Dalton Anderson (LB), Whitley County’s Kevin Simpson (WR), Austin Ysidro (LB/TE) and Austin Paul (OL), and Williamsburg’s Jefferson Patrick (LB), Chris Helton (OL/DL) and Collin Lamoree (OL/DL).

Tennessee began its first drive of the game on their own 27-yard-line, but a lost fumble after moving inside Kentucky territory gave the blue team first down on their own 23.

Yellow Jacket Chris Helton started at left tackle on the offensive line, helping to make room for Bowl MVP running back Arien Beasley (North Oldham HS) to break off a long run to near midfield. Kentucky ended up in punt formation a few plays later, but a fake resulted in first down at about the 50-yard line. Colonel Austin Ysidro was a lead blocker on the fake punt run.

Beasley had another good run, followed by a 40-yard touchdown pass from Lexington Catholic quarterback Reese Ryan to a wide open Ellis Cain (Louisville Male HS). North Laurel kicker Keaton Kennedy added on the extra point, and the Kentucky All-Stars took the 7-0 lead with 9:33 left in the first quarter.

Kentucky attempted an inside kick to get the ball back, but Tennessee recovered on its own 44-yard line. Then, on the first play from scrimmage, a double reverse pass from Centennial High School’s Deon Sanders found wide receiver Edward Hayes (Ooltewah HS), who took it to the house for six. A fumbled snap resulted in a failed extra point attempt, however, allowing Kentucky to hang on to the lead, 7-6, with 8:55 remaining in the first quarter.

Tennessee then recovered an onside kick of their own, but Kentucky linebacker Connor John (South Oldham HS) picked off quarterback Ethan Jeffers (Campbell Co HS) on the ensuing drive.

Kentucky then committed a turnover of its own, coughing up a fumble which Tennessee recovered at the Kentucky 40-yard-line, but Jeffers was picked off again, this time in the end zone by Kentucky’s Aldwin Jackson (Seneca HS).

The boys in blue scored again with 2:00 left before the start of the second quarter when Davis Mattingly (Louisville Male HS) threw a touchdown pass to wide receiver Malik Walker (Pleasure Ridge Park HS). Kennedy’s kick was good again, giving Kentucky the 14-6 lead.

The second quarter started with Redhound Dalton Anderson and the Kentucky defense holding to force a turnover on downs, but the offensive unit committed another turnover, this time with Ryan throwing an interception to Tennessee’s Cedric Washington (Knoxville Central HS).

The orange team turned that turnover into points with a Seth Marshall touchdown pass (Knoxville West HS) to Mikey White (Science Hill HS) with 10:28 left to go in the half. The two-point conversion attempt failed, but the Kentucky lead had been cut to 14-12.

Austin Ysidro then came up big for Kentucky by recovering another attempted onside kick, giving the blue offensive unit another opportunity to put more points on the board. That is exactly what happened, with Beasley catching a pass from Ryan and taking it 33-yards to the house at the 8:10 mark. Another Kennedy PAT extended the Kentucky lead to 21-12.

Tennessee made it deep inside Kentucky territory on their next drive, but thanks to more big defensive stops they had to settle for a field goal try. The kick was blocked, giving Kentucky the ball back at their own 20-yard line.

Thanks in large part to Redhound Zack Ingle, who was now in at left tackle on the offensive line, Kentucky was able to move the ball up the field with several impressive runs out of the backfield. The drive was capped with a three-yard scoring run from fullback Austin Hatfield (Belfry HS) with only 1:06 remaining in the half. This time Kennedy’s kick was unsuccessful, however, but Kentucky still had a commanding 27-12 lead.

A fumble by Kentucky on the opening kickoff of the second half was recovered by Tennessee, who capitalized with a scoring drive of their own capped by a one-yard touchdown run from Siegel High School’s Andre Knox. Clarksville High School kicker Mason Gasaway’s extra point kick was good, making the score 27-19, still in favor of Kentucky.

That was all the scoring that took place until 11:16 remained in the game and Kentucky’s Beasley scampered 50 yards to pay dirt. Another failed extra point attempt resulted in a 33-19 lead for the blue team.

Time was beginning to run out on Tennessee, but they rallied with another score, this time with Seth Marshall passing to wide receiver Lucas Harrison (Giles Co HS), who went 70 yards to the house. A successful Gasaway PAT made the score 33-26 with 10:15 remaining in the contest.

Ysidro recovered yet another onside kick attempt a few moments later, and after both teams traded punts back and forth Tennessee finally got back on the board again via a Dylan Wieger (Sullivan HS) touchdown pass to Eddie Lee (Memphis Central HS) with only 25 seconds left on the scoreboard. The orange team elected to go for the win with a two-point conversion, but Mikey White dropped the pass in the end zone.

Tennessee was able to recover an onside kick, keeping their hopes alive, but the Kentucky defense held, sacking Wieger twice in a row to seal the victory.

“It was an honor to be selected to play in this game,” said Jefferson Patrick after the game. “It was an insane experience, and I had a blast.”

Teammate Chris Helton said, “I had a good time just doing what I love this week. I do hope to go to college and play, so hopefully being a part of this game got me a lot of looks from college coaches.”

Collin Lamoree added, “I am proud of being selected to play alongside some of the best players around. It is a great feeling to be able to play on a team with such great athletes.”

Kevin Simpson thanked God for his opportunity at this year’s Border Bowl, and said that he considers it a “great privilege” to play with such high-caliber athletes.

Austin Paul said, “This was a great experience. It’s not every day that you get the opportunity to play in an all-star game with all of these great players from around the state.”

Ysidro also said that being selected to the Kentucky All-Stars was an honor for him, adding, “Not many people get the chance to be an all-star. I had a blast hanging out with the guys all week, and I really learned a lot.”

Dalton Anderson, who came away with All-Bowl defensive honors, said, “Being selected is an honor. I had a blast this week meeting new friends, and hanging out with all of these great athletes. I’m just glad that I could contribute to this win.”

Finally, Ingle said, “This has been a great week. You really can’t ask for a better experience than to come out and play with such great competition from both states. I had a great time.”