SK hosted Boone County tonight in a 6A District 6
match-up. The Rebels came into the game
banged up missing 6 starters. With Boone
sporting a 1-6 record, you would have thought that it might be a night where
the Neers could enjoy the festivities of their senior night.
The Rebels and Neers have had some awesome match-ups over
the years. One game that stands out is
the game played in 1977 at Boone County.
A caravan lined up at SK and stretched nearly to Florence. I remember by time I got to the game with my
dad that we had to park what seemed a mile away as the entire towns of Flo-town
and Indy turned out for the contest. Boone
County featured the powerful running game of George Rudd coached by the
legendary Owen Hauck and SK featured senior running back Denny Elbert. Elbert and Rudd both went over 100 yards
rushing in the game but SK came out on top in the game 21-12. SK thought they were bound for the state 4A
playoffs but the points system used for determining the playoff teams sent Boone
County to the 4A playoffs as SK lost some games they shouldn’t have and
finished the season at 7-4.
Meanwhile, back to 2012 action – 35 years later- Boone
County opened the game with a drive featuring mostly running plays that Hauck
would have been proud of. They capped
the 6 minute drive off with a short pass to Thad Moss that gave hope to the
Rebels.
SK’s first drive also resulted in a touchdown that was
set-up by a 19 yard run by Kuntz to the 1 yard line. Andrew Sampson’s number was called and he
followed Jared Bowling in for the easy score and it now looked like we might
have a high scoring contest on our hands.
The offenses did anything but get going as both teams looked
rather stagnant. Kuntz had little time
to find receivers downfield and took several hits and sacks. With just under 50 seconds to go, Kuntz was
hit and fumbled the ball resulting in the Boone taking the ball back for
6. The extra point put the Neers down by
a touchdown at half-time on senior night.
SK took the first possession of the second half and put
together a quick drive that was capped off by a 34 yard pass to Andrew Sampson
from Kuntz to bring SK back even with the Rebels. Sampson was pretty much wide open and just
cruised into the bus garage endzone.
The offenses for both teams would go into neutral once again
as the third quarter ended up knotted at 14.
The biggest play of the game came with 9:44 left in the
fourth quarter with Boone County on the SK one yard line. It looked like SK was about to go down with
Boone marching and getting gobs of yards behind their running back. The SK fans and band got loud and the SK
defense stepped up to hold Boone to about the two foot line.
The stop seemed to energize the SK Boys. Kuntz called his own number on the first two
plays after taking over the ball and gained about 4 yards. Coach Marksberry signaled for a timeout on a
3rd down and 6 play to get the call he wanted. Good move as Kuntz connected with Grant
Wassom for a 95 yard pass play for the SK touchdown.
Jared Bowling would intercept a Boone pass on the next Rebel
drive and the momentum started setting in for SK. The Neers would take the ball deep enough
into Rebel territory for Tyler Smith to get a field goal attempt that ended up
getting blocked. The ball was picked up
by Boone at the one yard line but was alertly dropped by a Jared Bowling tackle
at the one. The play was key as SK was
able to tackle the Boone County running back in the end zone on the very next
play for a safety. At this point, the
rain sat in on Meneffee stadium and the temperature must have dropped 20
degrees.
SK took possession of the football following the safety and
capped off a drive with one of those magical moments you expect on senior
night. Kuntz found senior Luke Stone for
his first catch of the season. Stone
would take the ball in for the TD and was absolutely mobbed by his
teammates.
Senior magic would continue on the next Boone
possession. The ball was snapped when
the Boone QB wasn’t ready. Senior Cody
Johnson was on the spot and came up with the fumble recovery for the
Neers. Travis Bryson would take the ball
in from 17 yards out and the Swanson to Huesman conversion would put SK up 38-14. Kuntz would pass for 275 yards, Sampson ran for 60 and Wassom would go for 122 in receiving.
Boone would score a late touchdown but Coach Marksberry was
able to lots of guys in the game and run out the clock for a 38-20 final. SK now stands at 7-1 and will travel to upstart
cross county rival Dixie Heights next Thursday night.
Prayers from the SK community are extended to
Somerset High School as two of their football players were critically injured
after practice yesterday. Will Hinton
and Jacobi Gilmore were air lifted to UK hospital after their car was hit
broadside by a tractor-trailer. Please
join in prayers for these young men, their families and the Briar Jumper
community. Sampson on a first half carry.
Coach Herbst looking for answers on the white board during the first half.
Kuntz takes this carry to the one.
Sampson scores SK's first TD.
Tradition; no object to the game, they just beat each other from the start of the game until the end waiting to grow up and get out on the big field.
Boone QB would get hit here and fumble. He would suffer an ankle injury at the end of the play.
Dance team at half-time.
Wilson with a pick.
Sampson gets a lift from Hansel after his receiving TD.
Former reciever Nate Ponzer with a reception out of bounds.
Huesman pulled this in despite the interference call.
The pass...
the catch.
Stone's catch and celebration.
Johnson's fumble recovery.
No comment.
Coach puts the wrap on another W.
