Click on pic for Lazer video by Bo Brumfield
Louisa, Ky. — After falling behind 10-0 Lawrence Co. ( 11-1 ) stormed back for a 32-26 victory over Rockcastle Co. ( 10-2 ) in the second round of the playoffs Friday at Luke Varney Jr. Memorial Stadium.
After a three and out by the Rockets a beautiful punt pinned the Dawgs at the one yard line Luke Fetherolf was sacked in the end zone on third down for a safety and Rockcastle Co. led 2-0.
After the Bulldog free kick Hunter Pingleton blasted off tackle and kept going and scored from 46 yards out. Isaiah Jackson added the two point conversion to make it 10-0 Rockets with 8:20 left in the first quarter.
In the second quarter LC’s Kaden Johnson forced a fumble and Cameron Castle recovered. A Luke Fetherolf QB sneak from a yard out and the two point conversion and it was 10-8 Rockets with 10:06 left in the first half.
Luke Fetherolf with a clean pocket as he finds Grey Derifield for the touchdown.
Fetherolf connected with Gray Derifield for a 37 yard TD and also found Derifield for the two point conversion and the Bulldogs led 16-10 with 2:48 left before halftime.
Kaden Johnson gave the Dawgs a two touchdown lead with a punt return TD.
In the third quarter the Bulldog defense forced a punt and Kaden Johnson took it to the house for a 48 yard punt return TD and Fetherolf tacked on the two point conversion for a 24-10 Bulldog lead with 3:05 left.
The Rockets kept fighting and just minutes later Camden Larkey scored on a 1 yard QB sneak and Larkey to Pingleton for the two point conversion to make it 24-18 with 11:27 left in the contest.
A Fetherolf TD and Johnson 2 point conversion was good with 4:10. Lawrence Co. took a safety on a punt to run some time off the clock it was 32-20 Dawgs with 55.8 seconds left.
Rockcastle Co. scored with 1.4 seconds on the clock to make it 32-26 on a 11 yard touchdown from Larkey to Brayden Thacker.
On the kickoff the time expired before the ball was recovered and the Dawgs won 32-26.
#51 Ty Brooks with a big stop for the Dawgs.
The Bulldogs will now play for a Regional championship at 11-1 Bell County next Friday night.
The Bobcats knocked the Bulldogs out of the playoffs in the second round last season in Pineville 44-12.
Bulldog Head Coach Alan Short
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Quality football team we just played. Knew we were going to get their best shot. We told our guys all week long to survive the assault early and keep swinging back. They jumped on us with 10 quick points but our guys never flinched or budged one bit. Just went about their business and kept playing and we were fortunate to come out with a victory tonight.”
“… Big time players make big time plays and getting the ball back after we turned it over was a big momentum swing in our favor. Kaden Johnson and Cameron Castle turned the game. They both made big catches on some fourth down conversions for us as well. Certainly proud of both of those guys.”
“… I thought the punt return touchdown blew the game open for us. Man what a play Kaden made on a short punt. With the two TD cushion we could play some soft defense and hold them off. Wish we would have gotten a first down to really close it out.”
