For the second time in three games, the Todd County Central Rebels will take on the Hancock County Hornets Friday night. For the Rebels, the stakes are very familiar to the ones they faced two Friday nights ago when they traveled to Hawesville.
While the game two weeks ago was a regular-season contest, had the Rebels lost that night, they likely would have seen their season come to an end last week at Green County. Instead, the Rebels came from 14 points down to pick up a 20-14 win over the Hornets.
The Todd Central defense played a big part in the rally, forcing four Hancock County turnovers, one of those being a fumble that was returned for a touchdown.
Omarion Riddick rushed for 93 yards in the game. Quarterback Gavyn Nolan ended up 11-15 with two touchdowns, one to Nate Reding and the other to Preston Moore.
Todd Central’s defense limited Hancock County to 115 yards passing and 131 rushing for the night. Logan Willis led the Hornets with 71 yards and a touchdown on the ground. Drew Lyday was 10-13 through the air for 115 yards and a touchdown.
The win not only got Todd County Central into the playoffs but earned them a first-round home game against that same Hancock County team this week.
The last time the two teams met in the playoffs is a night the Rebels would prefer to set out of their collective memories. The Rebels traveled to Hawesville last season in the opening round and saw the Hornet defense completely shut them down in a 36-0 loss.
Coach Josh Robins spoke about a return match with the Hornets Friday night.
A Todd Central win would be the school’s first playoff win in a quarter-century. The Rebels picked up two wins in the 1996 playoffs before being eliminated in the third round by Mayfield.
Todd Central’s Nate Reding tells YourSportsEdge.Com that a Rebel win over Hancock County would be a big deal for the Rebel football program.
Kickoff between the Rebels and the Hornets is set for 7pm Friday in Elkton.
