Louisa, Ky. — On homecoming night it was Lawrence Co. ( 3-1 ) cruising to a 35-14 victory over Harlan Co. ( 1-3 ) in the Lawrence County Farm Bureau Bowl at Luke Varney Jr. Memorial Stadium Friday.
The Bulldog Captains along with Head Coach Alan Short walk to midfield for the coin toss.
The Bulldogs marched right down the field and Luke Fetherolf punched it into the end zone from 8 yards out and Brayden Queen added the PAT and it was 7-0 with 6:41 left in the first quarter.
Carlo Chicko finds some daylight for a first down.
In the second quarter Fetherolf connected with Carlo Chicko on a 14 yard touchdown and Queen tacked on the PAT with 9:53 left before halftime.
After Josh Spillman recovered a fumble Freshman Chandler Preece found the end zone for a 3 yard touchdown and after another successful Queen PAT it was LC 21-0 with 6:49 before halftime.
Grey Derifield blocked a Harlan Co. punt and Preece recovered it setting up the Dawgs in Black Bear territory once again.
Luke Fetherolf stands tall in a perfect pocket before finding his receiver.
On the ensuing drive Fetherolf hit Andrew Ratcliffe on a 9 yard TD and after a Queen PAT it was 28-0 with 2:09 left in the second quarter.
Derifield picked off a pass and on the return fumbled but Ratcliffe recovered inside the 30 yards line.
A couple played later Fetherolf once again hit Ratcliffe this time wide open for a 22 yard TD strike and Queen made it 35-0 with just over a minute left in the first half.
Both coaches agreed to start the running clock for the reminder of the game.
In the second half Lawrence Co. only had possession of the football one time and Harlan Co. twice.
Luke Kelly caught a 40 yard touchdown pass from Brayden Morris to put the Black Bears on the scoreboard with 1:56 left on a running 3rd quarter clock and Aliya Burkhart added the PAT.
On fourth down late in the ballgame Kelly scored from 40 yards out and Burkhart added the PAT for the final points of the ballgame.
The Bulldogs will open up Class 3A District 8 play at Estill Co. ( 3-2 ) next Friday night.
The Black Bears will host Pikeville ( 1-4 ) next Friday night.
2024 LCHS Homecoming Queen Cassie Jo Damron
Cassie Jo Damron escorted by Zeb Slone
Lawrence Co. Head Coach Alan Short
COACH’S COMMENTS
“… Very proud of our team as a whole from our players to our coaches and staff as well. When we left Hazard two weeks ago it left a sour taste in our mouths. To come out tonight in front of our home crowd and play well was great to see. Very thankful for the effort tonight.”
“… Very pleased with the defense tonight. They gave the offense a couple short fields and we were able to capitalize and put points on the board. Total team effort, really proud of our team.”
“… We have spent the last 14 days really focusing on ourselves, the basics, the fundamentals and I think that showed up tonight. To win football everyone thinks it has to be this that and the other but truly when you break it down it is the little things that make the biggest difference and that is what we have focused on the last 14 days. I haven’t looked much on Estill Co. but we did get a chance to watch them during our bye week and they have a solid team and very good running back/linebacker in Jax Niece. We will enjoy this one for 24 hours and get back to work on Sunday afternoon church.”
If the Dawgs finish out with a winning season they are doing good!! Not this Friday but next Friday Belfry rolls into town!! And with lc struggling on defense they need a miracle this game!!!