Central defense stifled Wildcats

Sunday, September 14, 2008

A night after wracking up 25 points against a tough Trigg County football team, Hopkins County Central coach Rick Snodgrass wanted to give plenty of credit for the team’s win to the Storm defensive, which shut out the Wildcats.

Central forced five turnovers, including two on special teams, to secure the team’s second shutout in three games this season.

“Our goal was the shutout, but to shutout that explosive offense like they have (is great),” he said. “They had so many kids coming back from a solid team they had last year. We felt like we were going to be in a dog fight.”

The Storm defense induced three turnovers in the first half to gain momentum.

Trigg threatened late in the second quarter, driving near the redzone, but Wade Hendrix hauled in a deflected pass to keep the Wildcats off the scoreboard.

The turnover came after two Trigg fumbles, and Snodgrass said he was aware of the Wildcats’ struggles of holding onto the ball.

“They turned the ball over in some games and we felt like if we could get some hands in there and strip the ball loose we may have an opportunity to take a few away,” he said.

A special teams take away in the third quarter provided the Storm with the game’s last points of the game.

With Trigg facing fourth-and-long and its punter standing near the goal line, Central sent the house to rush the punt.

Lucas Duncan got a piece of it and Nikee Caldwell alertly picked it up and scored for Central.

“We felt like we could block a punt when we watched film and watched them in warmups,” Snodgrass said. “We felt like their long snapper was a little slow in getting the ball back.”

With a 25-point cushion, the Storm defense kept the Wildcats in check.

Trigg running back Brandon Bridges rushed for 114 yards, but no other rusher collected more than 10 yards.

Anthony Qualls, who forced a fumble, during Trigg’s second drive of the game, recovered a fumble in the game’s final minute to shut the door on the Wildcats.

Offensively, the Storm relied on many different players to keep the Wildcat defense on its toes.

Quarterback Jake Powell and his receivers struggled to make a connection early, however, as Powell threw eight incompletions before connecting with Kevin Couch for an 11-yard gainer, setting up Central inside the redzone.

“They were playing man coverage most of the night,” Snodgrasss said. “We told our kids we know there are going to be times when things don’t go well...but it is still possible to get that big play, and that’s what happened.”

Powell found his stride with the passing attack during the team’s first drive of the second half.

On third-and-eight from the Central 34-yard line, Powell dumped a pass off to Kevin Couch for a 10-yard gain. On the next play, Powell tossed to Kelsey Bowman for a negative yardage play, but made up for it when on second down he found Bowman, midstride, for a touchdown reception.

Bowman sprinted past the Trigg secondary and caught the ball at the 35-yard line and ran untouched for the score.

While Bowman may have turned in the biggest offensive play of the night, Keith Couch kept the Wildcat defense uneasy all game.

With his first touch of the night, Keith rushed 25 yards into Trigg territory in the first quarter. Keith scored on a 12-yard reception when his number was called again in the second quarter.

When Keith took the ball for his third touch of the night, Couch ripped off a 39-yard run down to the Trigg 41-yard line. Later, on the same drive on third-and-four from the 19-yard line, Powell passed to Keith for 12 yards, setting up the team’s second touchdown.

“He’s got that big play capability,” Snodgrass said of Keith’s elusiveness. “He’s got great speed, great strength.”

By night’s end Keith rushed five times for 78 yards to accompany his lone reception.

Notes

-Powell completed just six of his passes on the night, but three came on the team’s first drive of the third quarter when Powell went three-of-four for 67 yards and a touchdown.

Bowman led the receiving corps with two catches for 57 yards and a touchdown. Kevin Couch also recorded two catches for 21 yards while Caldwell made one catch for 20 yards and Keith Couch caught a pass for 12 yards.

-The shutout marks the second of the season for Central and the Storm have not allowed a touchdown all year in regulation.

Madisonville-North Hopkins remains the only team to have scored a touchdown on Central. North scored in overtime on Sept. 5 and went on to defeat the Storm 13-6.

-Despite allowing 114 yards rushing to Trigg’s Bridges, Central outran the Wildcats 141 yards to 126.

While Keith Couch led the way, running back Troy Dale Rorer gained 34 yards on eight carries. Powell also rushed 11 times for 31 yards, including a touchdown.

- Kicker Carlos Diaz made his high school football debut on Friday.

During the third quarter Diaz entered to attempt a 33-yard field goal, and displayed his powerful soccer leg.

Diaz’s kick, a line drive, had plenty of distance, but missed wide left.

Snodgrass said the team’s kicking game has really improved with the addition of Diaz and Wesley Ipock.

“(Diaz has) got strong legs, but he has to work on his accuracy a bit,” Snodgrass said. “We feel like if we get to the 20-yard line or so, he can give us a chance.”