After Todd County Central and Hancock County battled to a come-from-behind 20-14 Hornet victory in early October, Saturday’s first-round playoff matchup in Lewisport figured to be another tight contest. However, first-half turnovers and an efficient Hancock County offense doomed the Rebels to a 36-0 season-ending loss.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Hornets’ initial scoring drive was kept alive by a pass interference call on 3rd and 8 from the 34-yard line, giving them a 1st down at midfield. With eight minutes left in the half, Darian Clay reached the endzone on an 11-yard run, and the Hornets never looked back.
Hancock County doubled its advantage on a 50-yard pick-six by Jack Duncan, before Aiden Weatherholt fell on a fumble on Todd Central’s next possession to put the Hornets in scoring position again. With just over four minutes left in the half, quarterback Cole Dixon ripped off a 21-yard scoring run to add to the cushion.
The Rebels drove down to the Hornet 20-yard line with less than a minute until the break, but Preston Moore’s pass fell incomplete on 4th and 16 and they trailed 20-0 at halftime.
Hancock County’s first possession of the second half was extended by a roughing the punter call, and they took advantage with a touchdown pass from Cole Dixon to Sebastian Fredell. The Hornets recovered an onside kick and were back in the endzone a short time later when Dixon hit Austin Volocko for a 23-yard gain to trigger a running clock.
The Rebels’ final chance to get on the board came early in the fourth quarter, but Ethan Tomerlin couldn’t pull in Moore’s pass on 4th and 6 from the Hancock 10-yard line.
Todd County Central coach Josh Robins’ first season ends with a 3-5 record, while the Hornets advance to a second-round matchup with Owensboro Catholic.
