[Stardust]

By MICHAEL CHILDERS, CJ Correspondent
Commonwealth Journal
http://somerset-kentucky.com/localsports...ins-Region
Somerset — There’s a first time for everything.

A first happened for the Southwestern Warriors last night, as they won their first regional championship in the program’s 19-year history.

With a 28-21 overtime victory over defending regional champion Harlan County in last night’s Region 4 Championship game, Andy Stephens and crew earned a trip to the semifinals of the Class 5A State Playoffs, where they will face Anderson County.

Stephens knew that he had a successful group of players prior to the start of the 2011 high school football season.

“When we were practicing this summer, we knew we had a lot of talent and were very athletic,” began Stephens, who has led Southwestern to a nine-game winning streak since taking over as the Warriors’ interim coach. “We knew we had the potential to be good, we just had to come together as a team and start doing the things that we needed to do win. We knew we that we had the pieces needed to be successful.”

This contest between the two physical teams needed overtime to settle a winner, as both squads were tied 21-21 at the end of regulation. Harlan County won the toss and chose to play defense first, forcing the Warriors to play offense.

On the first play of overtime, senior Zack Turpin took the snap, back-peddled, and threw the ball in the direction of fellow tight end Alan Williams. Williams then came up with a spectacular catch for the ten-yard touchdown reception. Freshman

Pedro Herrera converted on the extra point, putting the Warriors out front by seven points at 28-21.

The Black Bears of Harlan County needed seven points to tie or eight points to win the game on their overtime turn. However, none of that mattered, as Harlan County fumbled the ball on their turn. The Warriors then came up with the loose ball, clinching the school’s first-ever regional championship with a 28-21 win over the

Black Bears, who came into the game as the favorite to repeat as region champs.

Harlan County struck first in this one, as Black Bear quarterback Jordy Brewer scampered down the field for a 51-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion failed, making the score, 6-0, in favor of the Black Bears. That would also be the score at end of the opening period.

Southwestern took a 7-6 advantage with 5:48 left until halftime with a 8-yard touchdown run from senior Dustin Powell, along with a kick from Herrera.

The Warriors would score again less than three minutes later, as Turpin hit senior Latrell Wilson in stride for a 62-yard touchdown pass. Herrera’s PAT failed, but Southwestern still led, 13-6, with just over three minutes left until the intermission. At the break, Stephens and crew led by six points.

The Black Bears would tie the game up at 13 apiece with 11:08 left in regulation with a Brewer run and an extra point from Josh Jenkins.

Southwestern would answer back in a huge way on the following kick-off. Wilson took the kick-off off the bounce, picked it up, and sprinted down the sideline for a 84-yard kick-off return touchdown. The Warriors converted on their two-point conversion play, as Williams threw a jump pass to fellow senior Justin Epperson. The Warriors now led 21-13 with 10:53 left in the fourth period.

“That was big, because we were struggling a little bit” said Stephens of Wilson’s big return. “Latrell did a nice job and had a super return. It was covered well, he just made two or three cuts and took the ball to the end zone.”

Harlan County wasn’t done with their scoring spree, as Brewer hit Austin Maggard on a 27-yard touchdown pass with 8:01 left in regulation. The Black Bears converted on their two-point try, tying the game up at 21-21.

Turpin had a stellar game for Southwestern, going 4 of 7 for 107 yards and two scores. Two of his four completions were touchdown scores to Williams and Wilson.

Wilson hauled in one pass, which was a 62-yard touchdown reception. The senior also had a huge 84-yard kick-off return for a touchdown.

Williams also caught one pass, which was a spectacular 10-yard touchdown reception.

The Southwestern offense had 138 rushing yards and 107 passing yards for a combined 245 total yards on the night.

“We can do so many different things with our quarterbacks,” explained the Southwestern interim head coach. “All of our quarterbacks are different, so it makes it a little tougher to prepare for.”

On the ground, Powell finished with 141 yards and a score on 28 carries.

The Black Bears were led by Brewer, who went 8 of 14 for 139 yards and a score in the air. On the ground, Brewer had 66 yards and two touchdowns on 13 attempts.

The Southwestern defense held the highly-touted Harlan County offense to 296 offensive yards (157 rushing yards and 139 passing yards).

“We loaded up the box and did the best that we could do to take that away,” told Stephens. “Our guys played hard and physical. That’s what we asked them to do all week, and that’s what they did tonight.”

With the win, Southwestern ups their record to 10-3 overall on the season and moves their winning streak to nine games.

The Warriors will travel to Lawrenceburg on Friday, Nov. 25, to face Anderson County in the semifinals of the Class 5A State Playoffs.

Anderson County, who will bring a record of 11-2 into the match-up with the Warriors, advanced to the semifinals with a 31-30 victory over Conner last night.