When your defense is giving up virtually nothing, it is much easier to pick up a win, regardless of what your offense may be doing or may not be doing. The Todd County Central Rebels limited Monroe County to just 105 yards of total offense as they “plucked” the Falcons 30-0 Friday night in Elkton.
The Rebels broke open a competitive 10-0 game by scoring touchdowns on their first two possessions of the second half to run the lead out to 24-0. And that would be far more than enough with the way the Rebel defense was playing on this night.
The Rebels gave up just 52 total yards in the first half and 53 more in the second half as the Falcons never seriously threatened to put points on the board.
The game was a defensive battle both ways early on as neither offense was able to get things rolling.
Todd County Central finally got on the board on the third play of the second quarter when Jamarion Smith ran it in from two yards out to put the Rebels up 8-0 after the two-point conversion with 11:22 to go in the first half. The score was set up by a 44-yard run from Gavyn Nolan.
The Falcons had their best drive of the night on the ensuing possession. Monroe started at the 20 and drove down the field chewing up four minutes of clock, but came up empty when Preston Stokes picked off a Brison Nuckols pass giving the Rebels the ball back at their own 32-yard line.
The Rebels were not able to convert however, as Gavyn Nolan was picked off for the first of two times in the game, this one in the red zone at the Monroe County 8-yard line. Todd Central still saw a benefit from the exchange as, after they had stopped the Falcons, Monroe County snapped the ball through the end zone on a punt attempt to give Todd Central a 10-0 lead going into the break.
The Rebels took the second-half kickoff and drove 57 yards for a touchdown. The drive was capped off by a 36-yard touchdown run from Jamarion Smith to make it 18-0.
The Rebel defense came up with its third turnover of the night on the next Monroe County possession. Nate Reding’s interception gave the Rebels the ball back on their own 28-yard line. Nine plays later, Jamarion Smith found paydirt for the third time, this one from one yard out, as the Rebels pushed the lead out to 24-0.
Todd Central would add one more score when Nate Reding ripped off a 39-yard run to finish the scoring for the night at 30-0.
The Rebels finished the game with 449 total yards to just 105 for Monroe County. 296 of those yards came in the second half.
Todd Central ended up with 361-yard rushing and 88 yards passing.
Gavyn Nolan had 109 yards. Jamarion Smith had 102 yards and three touchdowns. Nate Reding finished with 99 yards on the ground.
Through the air Gavyn Nolan was 5-12 with two interceptions for 88 yards.
Todd Central goes to 4-2 with the win and gets ready for a big district battle next Friday night on the road at Owensboro Catholic.
