Most of the time in the playoffs a team just simply can’t overcome all of the hurdles faced by the Hancock County Hornets Friday night. Playing on the road at Todd County Central, the Hornets not once, but twice mishandled a punt and lost possession of the ball. The Hornets added to those miscues a lost fumble, an interception near the end zone, and a crucial pass interference penalty.
There was also the issue of the winning touchdown, which Hancock County had to score twice, thanks to an illegal procedure call on the initial stroll into the end zone.
Then, there was the loss of their leading rusher Logan Willis, who was taken from the stadium by ambulance after he was injured on the second play of the second half.
But, overcome them they did. Hancock County picked off Gavyn Nolan’s pass that was intended for Nate Reding in the end zone with :17 left in the game to seal a tough 14-6 win over the Todd County Central Rebels in the first round of the Class 2A playoffs.
The interception came after the Hornets had fumbled the ball inside the Todd Central 20 yard line, with just over two minutes to go, as it appeared they were going to either chew up the clock or score a game-cinching touchdown.
Gavyn Nolan completed five passes on the final drive and picked up a key gain on the ground as the Rebels worked their way down the field to inside the Hornet 20 yard line before Hancock County came up with the big defensive play to close out the win.
The Rebels will long look back at the missed opportunities in this game as they were attempting to end a 25-year drought in playoff wins. Todd Central took the opening kickoff and chewed up more than four minutes off the clock on a ten-play drive. However, the Rebels were turned back at the Hancock County 18 yard line when they failed to convert on fourth down.
What time the Rebels did not eat in the first quarter, the Hornets took care of on their very first possession. Hancock County marched 82 yards on 12 plays, finding the end zone on the first play of the second quarter when Noah Mize scored from one yard out to give the Hornets a 6-0 lead. The drive took nearly eight minutes off the clock.
Disaster very nearly struck on the next possession for the Rebels. On the second play of the possession, Nate Reding took a big hit and lost the ball, giving the Hornets the ball back on the Todd Central 40 yard line.
Hancock County went right down the field on a 15 play drive, again chewing up more than 8 minutes. But this time, it was the Rebels that slammed the door. Dylan Baker picked off a pass from Drew Lyday at the three-yard line to end the Hornet threat.
The first half would end with the score still at 6-0.
The Hornets took the opening possession of the second half and started out from their own 20-yard line. On the second play, Logan Willis went up the middle for a 7 yard gain but appeared to land head-first when he came to the ground. The game was stopped for almost 30 minutes as he was tended to on the field and an ambulance arrived to transport him to the hospital.
After it appeared the Rebels were stopped on their next possession, Todd Central punted the ball back to the Hornets. However, Hancock County muffed the punt and the Rebels recovered at the Hornets’ 38-yard line. The Rebels scored three plays later when Omarion Riddick scored on a six-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 6-6 with 5:07 to go in the third quarter.
On the next Todd Central possession lightning struck again. The Rebels’ were stopped on a three and out, but the punt again was mishandled by the Hornets with Todd Central recovering. But this time, Todd Central would not find the end zone and would turn the ball over on downs on the opening play of the 4th quarter.
After the stop, Hancock County started at their own seven-yard line and drove down the field for the game-winning score. The Hornets appeared to have scored the touchdown on a two-yard run, but there had been a flag thrown for illegal procedure. Three plays later, Jack Duncan scored it for a second time, this one holding up, on a three-yard run to give Hancock County a 14-6 lead. The Hornets had also chewed up six minutes of the fourth quarter on the drive.
Todd Central’s Preston Moore lost the ball on the kickoff with Hancock County recovering at the Rebels’ 30-yard line. It looked as if the Hornets would put the game away, but Todd Central managed to get the ball away from Aiden Weatherholt to set up their last-ditch effort to get the game into overtime.
For the night, Hancock County gained 297 yards, 201 on the ground and 96 through the air.
Todd County Central gained 241 total yards, 120 on the ground and 121 through the air.
The Rebels were led on the ground by Omarion Riddick with 57 yards and one touchdown. Gavyn Nolan rushed for 36 yards, while Preston Moore added 34 more.
Nolan was 11-26-1 passing the ball for 121 yards.
Hancock County will now advance to take on Owensboro Catholic next week in the 2nd round of the Class 2A playoffs.
Todd County Central sees its season end at 4-7.
