Lexington Catholic Dominates LCA, wins First "Holy War" in Four Years
Entering this year’s edition of the “Holy War”, Lexington Christian Academy (#22 in KSR’s Week 4 Kentucky High School Football Rankings) was riding a three-game win streak over Lexington Catholic (#20 in KSR’s Week 4 Kentucky High School Football Rankings).
During the offseason, the Knights hired new head coach Bert Bathiany (previously the defensive coordinator at DII Tiffin University) to break that streak, and break that streak he did. In his first game against the Eagles, Bathiany’s Knights completely dominated on both sides of the ball en route to a 42-6 statement win.
LCA struggles without Boley
After being injured last week in a 49-14 loss to Christian Academy of Louisville, four-star sophomore quarterback Cutter Boley was out for the Eagles, and his presence was missed. The team’s second-leading tackler Will Nichols took the reins under center but was not very effective. LCA came out of the locker room hot, as Nichols connected on a 40-yard touchdown pass to junior Parker Chaney, but that was about all the offense would muster in the second half.
The Eagles would very much like to have Boley back next week, as they make the 2.5-hour trip to Pikeville (#25 in KSR’s Week 4 Kentucky High School Football Rankings).
Sweet, Sweet Victory for the Knights
Four years of Lexington Catholic’s frustration was taken out against their neighbors up the road Friday night, as seniors Walker Hall and Max DeGraff propelled the Knights to a statement victory over their bitter rivals. Hall gashed the Eagles on the ground, rushing for three touchdowns, including a sweet pylon dive in the second quarter.
DeGraff continues his phenomenal season as the team’s leading receiver and starting kicker, scoring on a 33-yard end-around in the second quarter and going a perfect 6/6 on extra points.
“I think I’m definitely more talented at kicking,” DeGraff said after the game. “You know, I’m having a great year at receiver, but I’ve been kicking since I was a freshman, so I’d definitely say that.”
In 2019, DeGraff missed a kick that gave LCA a 43-42 victory, so finally getting a win over the Eagles was a big deal for the senior swiss army knife.
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“Freshman year, I came in here and had a chance to win the game with a field goal and I missed it,” DeGraff added. “I really wanted to get this one back, and I’m glad we made it happen and it means a lot.”
“I’m so happy for our families, our players and our program,” said coach Bathiany after his team’s huge win. “This is my first Holy War, and it definitely lived up to the hype. I think it was awesome. It was a game we had circled for a long time, but I’d be lying if I said I was surprised about the outcome. I had 100% confidence in our team to come out and win, and you see what happens when we have a good week in practice.”
Bathiany is off to a great start at Lexington Catholic and seems like a coach you’d love to play for.
Pedroche scores First Touchdown in Play of the Night
All season, junior tight end Tanner Pedroche has been waiting for his chance to find the endzone, and he finally got that chance tonight. After catching a dime from junior quarterback Jackson Wasik, Pedroche hit a nasty spin move on the Eagle defender and barreled into the endzone, which pretty much put the game on ice.
“I’ve been waiting for a touchdown. I’ve been ready,” said an excited Pedroche after the game. “Today was perfect. We need to bring that same energy into our next game and hopefully we dominate that one too.”
Lexington Catholic moves to 4-1 and travels to Tates Creek next week.
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