SCORES ON A 45-YARD INTERCEPTION RETURN.
DRAGONS TAKE 4-5 RECORD INTO NEXT WEEK’S HOME FINALE AGAINST THOMAS NELSON HIGH SCHOOL
DRAFFENVILLE, Kentucky — They’ve passed out “Road Warrior” T-shirts inside the field house at Warren Central High School’s Joe Hood Field, and the Dragons lived up to that billing in non-district play against Marshall County on Friday night.
Senior quarterback Kayumba Jean Aime turned in another sturdy performance, and Warren Central teammates Deanglo Patterson and Devontre Patterson — yes, they’re brothers — both returned interceptions for touchdowns as the Dragons turned back homestanding Marshall County 36-21.
Warren Central snapped a 61-game losing streak on Opening Night — a gritty 13-0 mauling of Bullitt Central High School on August 20 — will take a 4-5 overall record into its final regular-season game next week.
The Dragons will tangle with winless Thomas Nelson High School, at Joe Hood Field, before opening the KHSAA Class 4A playoffs, likely against Madisonville-North Hopkins, in the first weekend of November.
In a scheduling quirk, Warren Central has just three home games this season, including next week’s Senior Night game against Bardstown based Thomas Nelson High School.
HAS HAD A MEMORABLE SEASON.
Second-year Warren Central head coach Mark Nelson has made a strong case for Kentucky’s Coach of the Year honors, pulling the Dragons within one victory of a .500 record in regular-season play.
Deanglo Patterson, the Dragons’ senior running back/cornerback, intercepted a fourth-down pass from Marshall County’s Connor Nix and scored on a dazzling 83-yard return to put Warren Central in front 24-7 midway through the second quarter.
(The Dragons scored three touchdowns, and added three 2-point conversions, in building their lead in the first half.)
Marshall County put together an 81-yard touchdown drive late in the third quarter, with junior bruiser Aiden Dunagin scoring on an 8-yard run to pull the Marshals within 24-21.
Warren Central’s Yzir Gray recovered a Marshall County fumble at the MCHS 35-yard line in the opening moments of the fourth quarter.
Warren Central quarterback Kayumba Jean Aime needed just three plays to get the Dragons into the end zone, scoring on a 1-yard run to make it 30-21.
(The 2-point conversion try failed.)
The Dragons’ Kangakole Jean Aime came up with a fourth-down stop to turn the ball over on downs with about eight minutes remaining, and teammate Devontre Patterson intercepted a pass from Nix and scored on a 45-yard return in the final moments of the game.
Nelson took a congratulatory phone call from his elder brother, Rick, before leaving the stadium. The Dragons were ready to get on the bus to take the 2.5-hour drive home.
“Deanglo’s interception really changed the momentum of the game,” Nelson said. “Offensively, we came out tonight and put some plays together. (Senior receiver) Omari Glover had another big game (four receptions, 98 yards, 1 TD) and A.J. (Kayumba Jean Aime) can make plays with his arm, and his legs. His twin brother (Kangakole Jean Aime) is really tough, defensively.
“We’re going to need everybody next week, for our game against Thomas Nelson at home. We’ll get to work on Monday and go from there.”
I’ll have extensive coverage on the Dragons’ victory on Saturday morning. Thanks for reading.
CONGRATULATES THE DRAGONS AFTERWARD.
AND HIS QUARTERBACK, A.J. JEAN AIME.