Taylor County Flexes with 42-13 Victory Over Elizabethtown in Kroger KSR GOTW

After last week’s cancellation, KSR was ready to see a great Game of the Week. Hayes Johnson and Taylor County made sure it would happen.

Taylor County defended their home turf with a 42- 13 win over Elizabethtown in the Kroger KSR Game of the Week on Friday night. Junior running back Peyton Smith led the charge for the Cardinals with three touchdowns. “My line does their job, and I get into the endzone. My line is great, and they pave the way into the endzone,” he said.

A big part of that line is Johnson, a three-star class of 2024 recruit who is committed to the University of Kentucky.

Slow opening half stalls both squads

This was a much-needed win for Taylor County after starting the season 1-1 with a loss to Mercer County in week one. Once the Cardinals charged out of the tunnel to a thunderous crowd, it set the tone for the rest of the night.

Outside of Peyton Smith’s electric performance on the ground, Johnson earned all three of his stars. Throughout the entirety of the matchup, the future Wildcat won almost every challenge, opening up holes for Smith. It helps that Johnson checks in at 6-foot-3, 295 pounds. Regardless, Johnson moves well for a guard.

Smith credited his performance to the future Division I lineman, “He’s a big body, he can move, there’s no other lineman like him in the state.” High praise from a running back towards the person who carved out his path to three touchdowns.

@hjohnson_71 with an early push, looks really good @AdamLuckettKSR @RoushKSR pic.twitter.com/fq5aultVZJ

— Brady Byrdwell (@BByrdwellKSR) September 1, 2023

The game’s first action saw Elizabethtown block a Taylor County field goal. However, after the play, all officials convened due to the uproar on the sideline. As it turns out, Taylor County ran the original blocked kick in for a touchdown, turning an awful play from the Cardinals into six. But the refs whistled the play dead after the Cardinals scooped the ball off the block.

This sent Freddie Maggard, Steven Peake, and myself into a headspin as Freddie admitted he had never seen a play like this. It must be rare if the Kentucky High School “Vito Corleone” has never seen it. After a rule book deep dive from Freddie, it was determined that it should have been a touchdown. However, officials made Taylor County replay the 4th and 15, and they threw an interception into the end zone. Elizabethtown then answered this turnover with a touchdown from Trey Durbin.

Cardinals Start Flexing

But from there, it was all Cardinals. Peyton Smith scored his first of three touchdowns in the following possession, bursting through a wide-open hole in the offensive line. Then, Smith broke away for his second touchdown in the quarter. Smith’s wonderful runs brought the crowd into a frenzy, and Miley Cyrus’ “Party in the USA” echoed from a boombox within the student section.

TOUCHDOWN CARDINALS, Peyton Smith with another huge run this time for 37 yards. TC misses the extra point
Taylor County 14
Elizabethtown 7
4:33 2nd Q pic.twitter.com/mWtgKhUQmx

— Brady Byrdwell (@BByrdwellKSR) September 2, 2023

After this, Smith added another touchdown before two passing touchdowns from Taylor County (including a trick play for 70 yards) and a separate rushing touchdown ballooned the final to a 29-point margin. Quarterback Rex Parkey enjoyed a great game, as he controlled the offense and aided the Cardinals to their wide winning margin.

Johnson spoke on the winning culture that Taylor County has developed under head coach Scott Parkey. “Our motto for the year is ‘Play Taylor County football .’ At the end of the day, when it gets rough, we’re gonna run it down your throat. And you’re not going to like it.” Like all great offensive linemen, Hayes is confident in what his team can do, which aligns with their ultimate goal of a state championship.

Johnson talks to BBN

Along with flexing his incredible talent, Hayes Johnson let KSR know that he is attending the Kentucky game on Saturday afternoon against Ball State. Aside from what he said in the preview from earlier this week, Johnson had more to say regarding the Wildcats.

When asked what Kentucky fans should expect from him once he arrives on campus, he said, “A kid that’s from Kentucky. It’s the same thing as playing for (Taylor County), I grew up here my entire life. I love this school, and I’m willing to do whatever it takes to win in blue.”

Here’s the future Wildcat, boy does he look good in blue @FredMaggard606 @hjohnson_71 pic.twitter.com/ij3yEPtiUj

— Brady Byrdwell (@BByrdwellKSR) September 1, 2023

Kroger is a staple in your hometown community just like high school football. There’s nothing quite like Friday nights in the Bluegrass. We are honored to share this journey with Kroger and you for the fourth consecutive season.