Log Mountain, Ky. — Turnovers bite the Bulldogs ( 11-2 ) in a 16-6 loss to Bell County ( 12-1 ) Friday night in the Class 3A Region championship game at soggy Dudley Hilton Field in the middle of a rainstorm.
The Bulldog defense held a very potent Bobcat offense to 16 points Friday night.
Bell County opened the scoring with a Kaleb Miller 2 yard TD on 4th down and Miller added the two point conversion for a 8-0 lead with 3:22 left in the first quarter.
After a short kickoff and a Bell Co. penalty the Dawgs had great field position but on second down they fumbled and the Bobcats took over at the 25 yard line.
#6 Cameron Castle signals first down after making a catch near the Bobcat sideline.
After the two teams traded punts the Dawgs took over with a few minutes left before halftime and after a couple first downs they threw an interception at the Bell Co. 35 yard line and it would be 8-0 Bobcats at Halftime.
The Dawgs got the ball to start the second half and drove to the Bobcat 2 yard line and on 3rd and goal Luke Fetherolf was sacked and fumbles and the Bobcats recovered to spoil the scoring opportunity.
On the ensuing drive the Bobcats faced a 4th and 2 from the 23 yard line a threw a low quick pass and looked like the pass was caught with the players knee down but wasn’t called and the Bobcats picked up the crucial first down.
Two plays later QB Blake Burnett hit a wide open Joseph Bridgman for and 14 yard TD and after a penalty on Bell Co. moves the two point conversion back Burnett connected with Nathaniel Saylor to make it 16-0 with 5:34 left in the third quarter.
#5 Kaden Johnson reacts to crossing the goal line against Bell Co.
Lawrence Co. got on the board when Luke Fetherolf hit Kaden Johnson who found his way to the end zone for a 9 yard touchdown but the two point conversion failed and it was Bell County 16-6 with 10:27 left in the game.
Luke Fetherolf fires a pass to Kaden Johnson for the touchdown.
The Dawgs recovered the ensuing kickoff and drive to the 24 yard and faced a 4th and ten but Fetherolf’s pass was intercepted in the end zone to end the drive.
Bell Co. took over at the 20 and pretty much ran the clock out from there.
Lawrence County turned the ball over five times in Bobcat territory.
Bell County 12-1 will advance to the Class 3A Final Four and face Christian Academy of Louisville ( 13-0 ) on the road Friday.
#5 Kaden Johnson and #7 Chandler Preece combine for the tackle on #5 Nathaniel Saylor of Bell County.
Bulldog Head Coach Alan Short
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Very proud of these kids and things didn’t go our way tonight. But our kids never, never faltered and battled all game long. They never hung their heads and just kept playing. To turn the ball over five times and hold them to 16 points is pretty impressive. They continued to play hard and unfortunately turnovers are part of the game and it hurt us tonight. I’m going to walk out of here tonight with my head held high. I wish it was a different result and it’s been a season unlike any that I have been a part of before. And that goes from players to coaches, a very bonded group.”
“… We have hung our hat all season on grit, toughness and that was true again tonight. Our senior class has been exceptional all year long lead by Braxton Davis, Aiden Patton, Brayden Queen, Brady Nelson and Luke Fetherolf. I can’t say enough good things about those five individuals. They are very special and have been true leaders in every sense. One of these days we will knock down this door. These guys are not going anywhere and come January we will get back to work. And see if we can’t make some more improvements like we did this past year. Thankful and blessed to be the coach at Lawrence County.”
