By Tim Branstetter / Staff Writer
The Pulaski County offense might have picked apart the Whitley County defense through the air, but it was a defensive pick with 1:34 remaining in a tie game that led to the Colonels being eliminated.
After the costly turnover by Whitley County, it only took the Maroons three plays to find pay dirt as a 15-yard touchdown pass gave Pulaski County a 40-34 victory.
“They are a very good team,” Whitley County coach Jim Black said. “We knew it would be difficult to beat them. They did what they needed to do to win and we didn’t.”
The Colonels held a 20-12 advantage early in the game, but trailed 34-26 with 8:52 remaining in the fourth quarter. They used a hard-nosed ground attack to complete a 90-yard scoring drive with a 2-yard touchdown run by Cody Bramlett with 3:08 remaining to play. Cody Bowlin added the two-point conversion to tie the game at 34-34.
The Colonels offense was powered by a rushing attack that totaled 548 yards with 419 yards via the ground game, while the Maroons went to the air and grabbed 538 yards with 420 yards via the passing attack.
Bramlett led the Colonels with 173 yards on 18 carries, while Bowlin added 95 yards and Jordan Chute chipped in 77 yards.
“Our kids showed a lot of heart,” Black said. “That’s the way we’ve raised them for our years and I am so proud of them.”
The Colonels grabbed an early 7-0 advantage on their first possession. A 73-yard scoring drive was capped off by a 31-yard touchdown run by Bramlett with 8:27 remaining in the first half. A 65-yard scoring drive gave the Colonels a 14-6 lead with 1:32 remaining in the opening quarter.
The Maroons scored again just before the half to close the gap at 14-12, but a fake extra point didn't fool the Colonels and they held the lead.
Whitley County grabbed its largest lead of the night at 20-12 on a 5-yard touchdown run by Bramlett with 10:50 remaining in the second quarter. The score capped an 80-yard drive that was sparked by a 75-yard run by Bowlin.
“We didn’t play well,” Black added. Turnovers killed us. We just cut ourselves short.”
Black was disappointed with his team's inability to defend the pass.
“We had a hard time covering them,” He added. “We got lost in man to man coverage. I don't know how you can do that. I mean if they go to the bathroom you should go with them.”
