Mud Bowl Breathitt at Estill – Photo by Brendon Miller
David Leveridge- Bluegrass Sports Nation High School Football – September 27, 2018 Irvine, KY
In tonight’s gridiron battle of Class 2A, 7th District, the Breathitt County Bobcats (3-3) traveled to Estill County to play the Estill County Engineers (2-3). Breathitt County is a team that is red hot, playing their best football of the season. Breathitt County started the season 0-3 competing against some of the biggest schools and most successful programs in the area. Breathitt County has since won three consecutive with impressive wins over Prestonsburg, Leslie County and last week had a 30-0 shutout over District rival the Knott County Central Patriots. Estill County opened the season against Class A power house Paintsville Tigers with a dismal performance being shut out 58-0. In Estill County’s third game of the season the Engineers got in the win column with a victory over the Boyd County Lions. Entering tonight’s contest, the Engineers are undefeated in district play with a 45- 30 victory over the Morgan County Cougars. The regular season is quickly coming to an end, and the game tonight was critical for both teams as the playoffs looms and teams are positioning themselves for home field advantage for at least the first game of the playoffs. My thoughts coming into tonight’s game is Breathitt County appears to be peaking at the right time and I look for a close game, but Breathitt will prevail by fourteen points. My prediction for the game tonight, Breathitt County 28- Estill County 14.
First Quarter- Once the game kicked off, it was evident to everyone in the stands that the field was going to be extremely treacherous. With the recent week long rain that has encompassed our area playing conditions were not ideal for high school football. Breathitt County received the ball on the opening possession. It wasn’t long before the Bobcats found the endzone as Braxton O’Hara scores the first of his multiple touchdowns on the night. Braxton scored on the second play of the game with a 6yard rushing touchdown. With the sloppy playing conditions, the first quarter saw multiple fumbles as snapping the fumble become an issue. After the first possession of the quarter, the game didn’t see any other scoring. Breathitt County leads 6- 0 at the end of the first quarter.
Second Quarter – The tempo of the game picked up in the second quarter with both teams scoring the ball with multiple touchdowns. Estill County tied the game at 6 with a twenty- two yard passing touchdown from #16 Trevyn Neace to #5 Noah Lutes. Estill County takes the lead with the 2 pt conversion leading the Bobcats 8-6 with 10:08 remaining. Breathitt County playing in a hostile environment with district seeding on the line answers on the following possession with an impressive pass from QB Braxton O’Hara to Tyson Gross, gaining 50 yards through the air with the throw and catch, deep into Estill county territory at the three- yard line. O’Hara finishes the drive with a three- yard rushing touchdown, his second of the night as the Bobcats regain lead. Breathitt County also converts on the two- point conversion leading 14- 8 with 9:45 remaining in the half. A sequence happened on the next couple series, really illustrates how the playing conditions on the field affected the game. The ball is turned over three separate times in a period of almost 2 minutes, each time recovered by the opposing team. After the multiple turnovers Breathitt County finally gets the offense to start clicking as the Bobcats score on an impressive 50-yard drive, with strong runs by Braxton O’Hara and Dalton Mann’s. Mann’s scores a touchdown with a one- yard rushing TD with 4:01 remaining in the game. Breathitt County has established a comfortable lead of 20-8. Estill County gets the ball on the last possession of the half and provides one of the most exciting drives of the night. Estill County RB Trevyn Neace was handed the ball multiple times and marched the Engineers deep into Breathitt County territory as the half nearing a close. On the last play of the half, with the clock striking zero the QB finds William Short in the endzone for an Engineer passing Touchdown. Estill County converts on the 2 pt conversion and the comfortable Breathitt County lead had been cut to six points at the half. Breathitt County leads Estill County 20-14 at the end of the first half.
Third Quarter- Turnovers due to the sloppy playing conditions, continue to cause Havoc on both teams as both teams fumble on their opening possessions. After consecutive turnovers, Estill County begins to develop momentum scoring a touchdown taking a two -point lead over Breathitt County. Estill County offense started to gel, finding success running the ball and with excellent special team play allowing the Engineers to take the lead. Midway through the third quarter Estill County scores with a four- yard rushing touchdown, converts on the 2 pt conversion. On the following possession Estill County goes for the onside kick, recovering the ball near mid field. The play was a confidence booster to the Engineer fans, leading to the stadium coming alive with excitement. The excitement was short lived as the Engineers would again fumble the ball on the snap, giving Breathitt County the ball back. On the next play from scrimmage Braxton O’Hara gets loose for a big Bobcat first down with a forty-yard gain inside the Estill County red zone. Braxton O’Hara finishes the drive with a 6 yd rushing Touchdown. The Bobcats regain the lead 26-22 over Estill county.
Fourth Quarter- Breathitt County starts to pull away in the fourth quarter, putting the game out of reach. Breathitt County has two unanswered touchdown runs adding to the lead. Tyson Gross scores on a 6 yd rushing TD with 9:45 remaining in the game. Braxton O’ Hara who has been impressive all night, finishes the game with his fourth rushing touchdown, giving the Bobcats a comfortable 18- point lead late in the fourth quarter. Breathitt County goes onto defeat Estill County 40-22.
Stats- Stats have been provided by Stephen Neace of WJSN Radio 97.3 FM.
- Breathitt County 40
- 16 first downs
- 291 rushing yards on 39 carries.
- 99 passing yards.
- 1 fumble with 1 recovery by Estill.
- Time of possession 14:56.
- Rushing stats
- Braxton O’Hara 4 TD, 164 rushing yards on 19 carries.
- Dalton Mann’s 1 TD 75 rushing yards on 10 carries.
- Tyson Gross 1 TD 47 rushing yards on 6 carries.
- Jason Noble 29 rushing yards on 2 carries.
- Passing stats
- Braxton O’Hara passing 2 completions on 5 attempts, no interceptions, gaining 99 yards through the air.
- Cameron Stacy 0 completions on 1 attempt, 1 interception.
- Receiving Stats
- Brandon Slaughter 2 catches gaining 99 yards.
- Estill County 22
- 13 first downs
- Total rushing yards 135 rushing yards on 50 carries.
- Passing yards 94
- 9 total fumbles with 3 recovered by Breathitt County.
- Time of possession 26.49.
- Rushing stats
- Coben Clem 3 rushes gaining 36 rushing yards.
- Justin Stamper 14 rushes gaining 24 rushing yards.
- Trevyn Neace 9 rushes gaining 24 rushing yards.
- Jonathan Miller 6 rushes gaining 24 rushing yards
- Chris Rigdon 7 rushes gaining 18 yards.
- Chance Edmonson 5 rushes gaining 20 yards.
- Passing Stats
- Trevyn Neace – 3 completions, 6 attempts, 1 interception, 67 passing yards.
- Chris Rigdon- 1 completion, 2 attempts, 0 interceptions, 27 passing yards.
- Receiving Stats
- Coben Clem – 2 catches, 43 yards
- Micah Swim 1 catch, 26 yards.
- Justin Stamper 1 catch, 25 yards.
Breathitt County improves on the season with a record of four and three. Next week the Bobcats continue District play travelling to Morgan County to battle the Cougars. Estill County drops to 2-4 on the season. The Engineers will also continue district play as Estill travels to Magoffin County to battle the Hornets. Good luck to both teams, and it has been a pleasure covering your teams. Bluegrass Sports Nation strives to continue providing excellence in sports coverage to our Mountain Athletes. Feel free to like, Share, comment and continue enjoying our coverage of tonight’s game. Our coverage can be found via Facebook Bluegrass Sports Nation, or our website @ www.bluegrasssportsnation.com
Thanks for our Sponsors of BHS Football: First National Bank of Jackson, Lakeside Homes of Jackson, YPK MOTORSPORTS and Breathitt County Tire!!!!
