Leavell Headed: Freshman QB Uses Breakout Performance to Lead Colonels Past Mustangs

Photo - Chris Jung

Simultaneously Friday night, the Christian County High School football team honored its veteran seniors and got a thrilling glimpse into the future with the emergence of freshman backup quarterback Deameion Leavell.

After junior starter Jordan Miles went down with an injury during the Colonels’ first offensive series of the contest, Leavell never flinched and delivered the performance of his life, leading CCHS to a dramatic 27-20 victory over McCracken County on Senior Night at the Stadium of Champions.

Leavell, who had attempted just 23 passes in six games prior to Friday’s regular-season finale, finished 21-of-35 for 395 passing yards and two touchdowns through the air in the comeback victory. He also scored the tie-breaking TD with eight seconds remaining, diving over the pile for a one-yard rush to give Christian County its first-ever win over McCracken in five tries.

After Leavell threw a pair of deep touchdowns to Elijah Underhill and JaSean Riley in the second quarter, giving the Cols a 13-6 edge at halftime, the visiting Mustangs came out with a vengeance to start the third quarter. MCHS recovered an onside kick to start the period, then took full advantage with a 21-yard TD run by Zeno Cornelius that tied the game at 13-all.

Less than three minutes later, Jonathan Venable stepped in front of a Leavell pass attempt and took it 75 yards the other way for a pick-6 to abruptly put McCracken County ahead 20-13 with 7:52 left in the third. It was Venable’s team-leading sixth interception of the season and first returned for a TD.

The score remained that way until the 4:49 mark of the fourth quarter. Facing a key fourth down, an attempted field goal by Sebastain Hutchins was blocked by Christian County and returned nearly 60 yards for a touchdown by Jayvion Hawkins, sending the CCHS sideline into a frenzy. Freshman kicker Mason Malone, who came into the game having made just one of his six extra point attempts this season, drilled one of three PATs after the Hawkins return to tie the game at 20.

Hawkins then came up big again for the Colonels, picking off MCHS quarterback Pryor Lamb with 2:25 to go, setting the stage for Leavell’s heroics. On the game-winning drive, Underhill used one of his game-high nine receptions to get CCHS down to the McCracken 27-yard line. The Colonel receiving corp then drew a pass interference penalty to get CCHS into the red zone.

Christian County jumped too soon and was hit with a false start penalty to set up a second-and-goal at the seven. CCHS had to overcome a staggering 22 penalties for 186 penalty yards in the victory. Leavell carried the ball just short of the goal line on the next play, then kept it on a dive over the middle on third down to cap the incredible win.

Underhill, who was named CCHS Homecoming King at halftime, finished with 198 receiving yards and a TD on the aforementioned nine receptions. Riley added six catches for 120 yards and the score. Jalen Peters came up with some clutch plays and finished with 50 scrimmage yards, helping the Colonels snap their three-game losing streak and finish the regular-season slate with a record of 2-8.

For the Mustangs (2-8), Cornelius (31 carries, 148 yards, TD) and Dillon Ruxer (5 carries, 101 yards, TD) did their part on the ground, but the Christian County defense kept Lamb at bay through the air. The Mustangs also racked up their fair share of laundry with 16 penalties for 156 yards. Pryor was just 6-of-21 for 51 yards and the interception. The Class 6A ‘Stangs were held to just 271 yards of total offense.

Christian County (2-8) likely played its final home game of the season Friday. The Colonels will now begin their Class 5A state playoff journey Nov. 5 at Owensboro. CCHS, which hasn’t played the Devils since a 42-20 loss in 2018, will be looking to advance beyond the first round of the postseason since 2017.

SCORING PLAYS
MCHS: (2Q, 8:54), Dillon Ruxer 66-yard run (kick no good)
CCHS: (2Q, 5:15), Elijah Underhill 45-yard catch from Deameion Leavell (Mason Malone kick good)
CCHS: (2Q, 2:28), JaSean Riley 48-yard catch from Leavell (kick blocked)
MCHS: (3Q, 10:10), Zeno Cornelius 21-yard run (Sebastain Hutchins kick good)
MCHS: (3Q, 7:52), Jonathan Venable 75-yard interception return (Hutchins kick good)
CCHS: (4Q, 4:49), Jayvion Hawkins 60-yard blocked kick return (Malone kick good)
CCHS: (4Q, 0:08), Leavell 1-yard run (Malone kick good)