Nationally Ranked Boyle County Rolls to Victory Over Scott County
Fresh off a road win over the nation’s then-No. 12 ranked St. Edward (Ohio) Eagles, the Boyle County Rebels (4-0) turned a slow start into a 56-26 victory over the Scott County Cardinals (1-3) in Georgetown on Friday night.
On a beautiful night on the Cards’ awesome new campus, the Rebels showed why they are ranked in the top 25 of several national polls (No. 14 in MaxPreps and USA Today). The first-team offense scored touchdowns on every possession and the defense added multiple touchdowns. Three times the Rebels scored touchdowns in under 30-second spans and they turned a 21-19 lead into a running clock in less than seven minutes of game action.
Blink and you missed it.
In the first quarter, Boyle County scored touchdowns 24 seconds apart to open up a 14-0 lead. Then, in the final minute before halftime, Baylor Murphy twice connected with sensational sophomore Seneca Driver for touchdown passes 15 seconds apart. That turned a tense 21-19 edge into a comfortable 35-19 lead heading to the locker room.
Scott County opened the game with an impressive six-minute drive powered by their patented wing T, run-heavy offense before the drive stalled at the Rebel 41-yard line. Boyle County marched down the field with Demauriah Brown capping off the drive with a four-yard touchdown run.
A Brock Driver scope and score on the next play for scrimmage extended the Rebel lead to 14-0.
The Cardinals got to within 14-12 by keeping the Rebels offense off the field. Elijah Lilly got them on the board with a 10-yard touchdown. Coach Jim McKee rolled the dice with an onside kick that the Cardinals recovered. Highly recruited sophomore Timmy Emongo had several impressive runs in the half for Scott County. Andrew Hickey eventually scored on a quarterback sneak and it was game on.
Mr. Football candidate and West Virginia commit Montavin Quisenberry extended the Rebels’ lead to 21-12 with a sensational 40-yard touchdown run out of the wildcat on 4th-and-2.
Scott County’s offense continued to respond, punching it in on 4th and goal from inside the 1-yard line.
That’s when Murphy and Seneca Driver went to work, converting a pass on 4th down to move the sticks before connecting on 10- and 32-yard touchdown passes right before halftime. The latter was set up by a Jaysia Richards interception. Driver is one of the top sophomores in the state.
Quisenberry scored again to open the third quarter, turning a short pass from Murphy into a 63-yard touchdown reception. Richards then added a scoop and score on the next play to make it 49-19. That’s 28 points in less than a three-minute span of game action.
Murphy tossed a 23-yard touchdown to Maddox Hager to trigger a running clock with 6:23 remaining in the third quarter and Hickey rushed for another touchdown for the final margin.
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Quisenberry, who starred in the win over St. Edward, caught five passes for 115 yards and added 50 yards rushing on Friday. The Rebels kickoff team was electrifying, delivering several highlight reel hits.
Credit Scott County for rolling up 299 rushing yards on the nation’s No. 14 team. Emongo was off to a strong start before suffering an injury before halftime.
Playoff picture:
Boyle County, who received all 10 first-place votes in the KSR Top 25 poll, is favored to bring home their fifth straight state championship, but 4A is loaded with contenders including No. 3 Paducah Tilghman, No. 5 Corbin, No. 14 Franklin County, and No. 19 Ashland Blazer.
Making History:
Boyle County is trying to five-peat for the second time in program history. The Rebels also did so from 1999-2003. Fort Thomas Highlands is the only other school that won at least five straight. The Bluebirds ran off six in a row from 2007-2012.
The Rebels are seeking to become the first Kentucky team to finish top 10 nationally since Louisville Trinity ended up at No. 10 in the MaxPreps final 2020 rankings. The Patrick Towles 2009 Highlands team, which finished No. 2 in the USA Today rankings, remains the gold standard in terms of national recognition.
Next Up:
On Friday, September 20, Boyle County hosts Taylor County while Scott County hosts No. 18 Madison Central.
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