PAYTON COPE’S 1-YARD QB SNEAK PRODUCES UPSET OF TROJANS
GLASGOW — Payton Cope and the Allen County-Scottsville High School football team trailed Barren County for nearly the entire game Thursday night.
The Patriots needed a break.
Barren County, a KHSAA Class 6A school, was bigger up front and had more depth at its disposal. Stands to reason, because Barren County is the only 6A squad in South Central Kentucky.
Allen County-Scottsville’s rugged defense kept the Patriots in the game, however, and their special teams turned the tide midway through the fourth quarter. That opened the door for the Patriots, and Cope took it with a 1-yard quarterback sneak for the decisive touchdown with 3:35 left in the game.
Allen County-Scottsville 18, Barren County 14.
SCORES THE GAME-WINNING TOUCHDOWN.
Cope, a 5-foot-10, 175-pound senior, turned in a steely performance as the Patriots delivered veteran coach Brad Hood’s 100th career victory with the AC-S program.
It’s been a difficult season for the Patriots, and Barren County hasn’t won a game since September 23, either. The AC-S defense finished the task at hand after the Trojans’ fifth turnover, an interception by Patriots lineman Aubrey Fernandez in the game’s final moments.
The Patriots savored the victory, when it was over, and Hood said it was a testament to their toughness.
ADDRESSES HIS TEAM AFTER THE GAME.
“I’ve been doing this, coaching high school football at a place I love, since 2006,” Hood said. “This group of kids, to fight like they did tonight, to battle through adversity … it really shows their heart.
“Since (Win No. 98) I’ve been a nervous wreck. The seniors told me they were gonna give me No. 100 this year, and they did it. I’m really proud of all of them.”
DEFENSE IN AN 18-14 UPSET OF BARREN COUNTY.
Allen County-Scottsville improved to 3-7 heading into its KHSAA Class 4A first-round playoff game next week at Logan County High School. The Cougars, the Class 4A 1st District champions, take an 8-1 record into their regular-season finale at South Warren (5-4) on Friday night.
Allen County-Scottsville tangled with Logan County on Opening Night, and the Cougars escaped with a 26-16 victory. Logan County averages 40 points per game, but Hood believes the AC-S defense is equal to the task.
“Our defense has been a mosh pit,” Hood said. “Different kids, coming in and out. Overcoming injuries. We held a good offense to seven points. They got their other touchdown on a scoop-and-score. You can do great things with a big heart. I’m honored to be their football coach.”
SOME TOUGH YARDS ON THE GROUND.
Barren County struck first, driving 39 yards for its first touchdown with 7:07 left in the first quarter. The Trojans’ Tate Spillman scored on a 5-yard run, and football/basketball star Aiden Miller added the extra point to make it 7-0.
Cope and the Patriots’ offense had a 12-play, 65-yard scoring drive in the second quarter, with Cope scoring on a 1-yard quarterback sneak. The extra-point attempt failed, however, which proved to be a factor as Barren County stayed in front with a 7-6 lead.
It was a grueling, physical contest, and Barren County turned to its defense to extend its lead to 14-6. The Trojans forced a fumble from AC-S senior Julyan McPeak, and linebacker Cody Rito delivered a scoop-and-score, a 55-yard return on the Trojans’ sideline.
AS A TAILBACK AND A DEFENSIVE TACKLE.
McPeak, however, would put that setback behind him with the play of the game.
Four minutes into the fourth quarter, BCHS receiver Aiden Miller lined up for a field-goal attempt from 38 yards out. McPeak stormed through the right side of the Trojans’ protection and blocked the kick with his muscular midsection.
Thump, thump.
AC-S senior Zander Reynolds, a 240-pound defensive lineman, showed some deft footwork himself, picking up the ball and finding the left sideline for a 40-yard return.
“It’s the best feeling in the world, a lineman’s dream, to get the ball in his hands,” Reynolds said. “I’m not sure how long it was, but yeah, I was tired.”
Opportunity was knocking for the Patriots.
AC-S quarterback Payton Cope quickly got his team in the red zone, and the Trojans were hurt by an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. Ultimately, though, it became a chess match on the goal line, with Barren County coming up with a couple critical stops to force a fourth-and-1 situation.
It pretty much came down to a battle of wills.
“We called a timeout (before the winning touchdown), and we met, as a team, on the sideline,” Cope said. “Coach Hood looked at us, in the huddle, and said, ‘We’re goin’ with the quarterback sneak. Let’s get a win and go home.’
“It felt pretty good, getting in that end zone.”
The Patriots lined up with an unbalanced offensive line, to the left side of the field, drawing most of the Trojans’ defense with them. Cope took the snap from junior AC-S center Landon Coulter and followed the blocks of Coulter and senior guard Hunter Strain to get in the end zone with 3:35 left in the game.
Allen County-Scottsville had its first lead of the game, at 18-14, but the Trojans’ defense foiled the attempt for a two-point conversion.
FOR NEARLY THE ENTIRE GAME.
McPeak and AC-S teammate Jake Gardner, the Patriots’ undersized defensive tackles, made one play after another in the Barren County backfield.
The Trojans had one last chance, and senior quarterback Will Childress and the BCHS offense punched out a couple first downs to get past midfield.
McPeak and Gardner pressured Childress one last time, and the Trojans’ QB tried to sling the ball to BCHS running back Donovan Bradshaw. Instead, junior AC-S lineman Aubrey Fernandez came up with the interception before adding a 35-yard return.
Cope and Co. were able to run out the clock, and after the postgame handshakes, the AC-S players, coaches and fans could celebrate the hard-earned victory on the field.
“We just kept fighting, we never give up,” AC-S senior lineman Jake Gardner said. “We’re looking forward to playing Logan County in the playoffs.”
THE PATRIOTS AFTER THE GAME.
WITH LOGAN COUNTY IN THE CLASS 4A PLAYOFFS.