[Stardust]

An unlikely culprit brought an end to Boone County’s unlikely postseason run.

Midway through the third quarter an errant snap soared out of the Rebels’ end zone for a safety, which proved to be the difference in the final margin as Boone County fell to unbeaten Scott County 16-14 in the Class 6A state semifinals on Friday at Georgetown College’s Toyota Stadium.
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The semifinals berth marked Boone County’s third since 2004, but this latest postseason run holds a special place for coach Rick Thompson.

“Nobody would’ve ever figured we’d get this far,” said Thompson, whose Rebels failed to make the playoffs last season and started this year with a 4-3 record. “I’m as proud of this group as any group we’ve ever had get to this point because this is a team without any stars. It’s a group of seniors who did a great job all year and I can’t tell you how proud I am of them.”

The Cardinals (14-0) advance to face Trinity at Western Kentucky University’s Houchens Industries-L.T. Smith Stadium next Friday with a state title on the line.

Though the Rebels (9-5) failed to taint Scott County’s unblemished record, they did become the first team this season to slow the Cardinals’ potent Wing-T offense.

Scott County had scored at least 35 points in every game this season, a streak the Rebels snapped by forcing a pair of turnovers and holding the Cardinals to more than 100 yards below their average rushing yardage.

“They were very good defensively,” Scott County coach Jim McKee said. “They ran to the ball really well and they stuffed us up tonight.”

The Cardinals’ most impressive drive of the game was their first, a scoring march covering 73 yards on nine plays.

The Rebels responded with a little help from Scott County. A roughing the kicker penalty gave Boone County a first down at the Cardinal 41-yard line. From there, three Cody Rodriguez runs – including a 31-yard gallop – pushed the Rebels into the end zone to tie the game at 7-7.

The Cardinals had outscored opponents 203-7 in the first quarter this season. But despite breaking through Scott County’s season-long first quarter domination, the Rebels’ momentum didn’t survive until the half.

After missing on his first seven pass attempts, Scott County quarterback Ben Lawler connected on a 43-yard heave to senior tight end Nick Smith with 14 seconds remaining in the second quarter. The Cardinals scored on the next play, an 18-yard touchdown toss from Lawler to junior running back Kevo Edwards to give Scott County a 14-7 lead at the break.

The Rebels’ fateful off-target snap came on a punt attempt with seven minutes remaining in the third quarter. The resulting safety meant that Kameron Schwartz’s 48-yard touchdown pass to Bryson Thompson later in the quarter left Boone County trailing 16-14 instead of tying the game.

The Rebels’ best chance to take the lead came when they advanced the ball to the Cardinal 38-yard line with four minutes left in the fourth quarter, but a failed quarterback keeper by Schwartz on fourth-and-2 returned the ball to Scott County for good.