Special Teams Play Helps Patriots Advance in Playoffs

By Don Meador,
Sports Writer

Three punt returns for touchdowns were key moments in Allen County-Scottsville’s 56-34 win over a hard-playing Nelson County squad last Friday night at Patriot Stadium. The big plays by Chase Ross and De’Ante Grainger–made possible by the blocking of AC-S’s special teams’ squad–not only helped AC-S avoid an upset but also carries the Patriots forward in the Class 4A 2024 UK Healthcare Sports Medicine Football finals.

Friday’s game quickly turned into an offensive shootout. After the Patriot defense stopped the Cardinals on the game first series, Ross fielded the Nelson County punt near his own 15-yard line. Ross found a lane near the Patriot sideline, alluded would-be tacklers, and raced to the end zone. Joseph Hunley’s point after staked AC-S to a 7-0 lead at the 9:24 mark of the first period.

Nelson County responded. Taking possession near midfield, the Cardinals needed less than five minutes to tie the contest at seven. Next, AC-S quickly responded. Braylon Adams’ keeper for score at the 2:18 mark in the first lifted the hosts to a 13-7 lead after the PAT.

The Cardinals caught the Patriot secondary asleep on their next series. A 45-yard pass from quarterback Kam Morley to Jacob Reynolds and a conversion lifted the visitors to a 14-13 lead with 1:32 remaining in quarter one.

On the next series for AC-S, Adams and Ross led the Patriots down the field. Adams capped the march with a five-yard run for a score. A successful two-point conversion gave AC-S a 21-14 lead at the 9:44 mark of the second.

Rising to a challenge to hold the Cardinals on the next series, the AC-S defense answered with a key stop. Nelson was forced to punt the ball away. Enter Grainger. The speedy junior fielded the punt at his own five yard line. Grainger cut to his right, racing toward the Patriot sideline. Meanwhile, the punt return unit was forming a wall. Grainger cut the corner and then turned on his cat-like speed. The result was his third punt return for a score this season. The PAT was blocked leaving the Patriots ahead 27-14 with just under six minutes remaining in the opening half.

The Cardinals avoided falling out of striking position in the first half on their next opportunity. Nelson County marched down the field and scored on a 26-yard run by Braydon Smith, cutting the 13-point AC-S lead to six, 27-21, with 4:27 left in the half.

The first-half fireworks were not over. With 1:01 left in the first half, the Cardinals were again stopped near midfield. Again, Nelson County punted the ball in Grainger’s direction. After bobbling his first attempt to secure the pigskin, Grainger gained control near his own 10-yard line. The result was identical. Grainger raced right, found a lane, and raced to the AC-S end zone.

The score lifted AC-S to a 33-21 lead–a lead that could have been more. Nelson County threatened to score for a fourth time in the final seconds. However, Adams picked off a pass attempt on the final play of the half. The senior returned the ball 73 yards before being stopped. The play capped a first half where both teams combined for 54 points.

The birds from Bardstown refused to settle in their nest for the second half. With 8:06 left in the third, Nelson County reached the Patriot end zone for a fourth time. The score and PAT left AC-S with a 33-28 lead.

Without hesitation, AC-S counter-punched. With the Patriot line continuing to open gaps, AC-S pushed down field. At the 3:03 mark, an 11-yard run by Ross lifted the lead to 11, 39-28. Adams found Jax Coffey open for a two-point conversion enabling AC-S to open a 41-28 lead.

As the final frame started, AC-S added a score to open a bit of breathing room. Adams scored his third rushing TD of the game on a four yard run. The two-point play to Coffey staked the Patriots to a 49-28 lead with 10:35 left in the game.

After Nelson County scored again to narrow the lead to 15 with 4:38 left, Grainger sealed the win with another score. To mix things up, it was not on a return. Rather, Grainger took a handoff from Adams at the Cardinals’ 42-yard line. Sweeping around the corner, Grainger again outran the Cardinals defense to score the final Patriot touchdown. The PAT was good, providing the game’s final margin.

Grainger finished with 241 all-purpose yards–returns, rushing, and receiving. Ross rushed the ball 16 times for 122 yards and added his return score to finish with approximately 200 all-purpose yards. Adams passed for 46 yards and carried the ball for 57 yards to surpass 100 yards of offense in the game.

Defensively, Jackson Morris continues to shine from his defensive linebacker position. Morris was in on 14 tackles and recorded two sacks. For the year, Morris has recorded 129 total tackles–a stat that ranks the powerful senior among the state 4A leaders in tackles. Eli McCoy was in on 12 tackles while Mason Hester finished with 10 total tackles.

AC-S finished the night with 248 rushing and 46 yards in the air. Nelson County ran for 123 yards and passed for 239.

The Patriots (9-2) advance to the second round of the playoffs. Friday night, AC-S travels to Bardstown to face the Tigers (8-3). Bardstown survived Logan County’s upset bid last week, defeating the Cougars 28-20.

Going by RPI–the KHSAA’s ratings system–AC-S will enter the game favored. The Patriots have a rating of .60683 while Bardstown comes in at .57303. The winner moves to the Class 4A state quarterfinals where RPI will be used to determine a match-up and a location.

Kickoff Friday night is set for 6:30 (CST) at Bardstown. Admission will be $10 per person.