Todd County Central knocked off hosts Russellville 41-26 on Friday for the program’s first win over the Panthers since 1996, and the Rebels have a freshman quarterback to thank for returning bragging rights to Elkton.
Miles Reding had a hand in all six of the Rebels’ touchdowns, rushing for four and throwing for two more to help Todd Central even its record at 3-3 ahead of a visit from Owensboro Catholic next week to kick off district play.
After a red zone turnover in their opening drive, the Rebels’ offense began to click, with Reding leading the way. Trailing 7-0 after a 13-yard TD pass from Russellville’s Hunter Hallman to Octavious McKeage, the Rebels got on the board with 10:08 left in the second quarter on a 38-yard strike over the middle to Brain Farlow.
A 33-yard scoring run by Reding on 4th and 9 put the Rebels in front for good at 13-7 with 7:58 left in the half, and that was the score at the break.
A five-yard TD run by Reding put Todd Central up two scores with 6:52 left in the third before Farlow scored from 46 yards out on a screen pass from Reding to make it 27-7 late in the quarter.
Russellville returned to the endzone for the first time since the first quarter on a 16-yard pass to JaCoveon Temple-Dickerson for a 27-14 score to end the third.
With the game winding down in the final five minutes, Miles broke a 42-yard TD run up the middle to seemingly seal the victory. However, on the ensuing kickoff, Temple-Dickerson fielded the ball near the goal line and hit the right sideline for a TD that again cut the lead to two scores.
Reding again had the answer, going up the middle on 3rd and 11 for a 13-yard score to restore the three-touchdown advantage. But Temple-Dickerson still had some fireworks up his sleeve, again racing down the sideline for a kickoff return TD with 1:41 left for the final score.
The Rebel defense forced a fumble, and Elisha Bryant had a fourth-quarter interception. Team-leading running back Quinton Grace exited the game with an injury.
The final margin is Russellville’s closest game this season, with the Panthers slipping to 0-6 ahead of a trip to Ballard Memorial next week.
