The Christian County Colonels saw their season come to an end in the opening weekend of the playoffs for the fourth consecutive year, falling 47-6 at South Warren on Thursday night.
The Spartans win their ninth straight to move to 10-1 ahead of a visit next week from the winner of Friday’s matchup between Greenwood and Bowling Green.
South Warren, unbeaten against in-state competition, was ahead inside the first two minutes on Thursday, with Cristian Conyers scoring on an 11-yard run to cap the opening drive.
Quarterback Caden Veltkamp doubled the advantage with a two-yard TD run after the Spartans returned a punt to the Christian County 6-yard line.
The Colonels picked up a pair of 1st downs on their next possession, the first on a 19-yard pass from Jordan Miles to JaSean Riley followed by a 26-yard run by Miles to the Spartan 30. However, the drive stalled with a personal foul and the Colonels were forced to punt.
South Warren’s Luke Burton added a rushing touchdown in the final minutes of the 1st quarter and the Spartans led 20-0 after a failed 2-point conversion.
Conyers found the endzone on an 11-yard pass from Veltkamp and Evan Lee scored on a 7-yard run for a 33-0 score with 7:16 left in the 1st half. The Spartans triggered the running clock when Avrin Bell took a screen pass 37 yards for a 40-0 lead at the break.
South Warren scored its only touchdown of the 2nd half on its first possession of the 3rd quarter, ending with a 2-yard plunge by Jimmy Sales.
The Spartans’ 42-yard field goal attempt was partially blocked with 9:42 left to play, the first time all night they failed to end a drive with points.
Christian County got over half its total yards for the game on a single play, with Miles’ pass skipping off the fingers of one Colonel receiver and hitting Riley in stride behind the Spartan defense for a 73-yard scoring strike. The 2-points try was intercepted and South Warren ran out the clock on its final possession.
Veltkamp finished 11/15 for 254 yards through the air and the Spartans rushed for 163 yards. South Warren outgained the Colonels 417 to 138.
Christian County managed only six 1st downs, passing for 116 yards and rushing for 22 more. Miles completed seven passes, including three to Riley for 104 yards.
