Pike Co. Central ekes by Dawgs in key District matchup; Gillespie scores five touchdowns

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Buckley’s Creek, Ky — Bulldog QB Baden Gillespie scored five touchdowns but it wasn’t enough as Lawrence Co. ( 3-4 ) fell 48-35 to Pike Co. Central ( 6-1 ) in a pivotal Class 3A District 8 Matchup Friday night.

Gillespie got the shootout started with a nifty 50 yard touchdown on fourth down on the Bulldogs first drive of the game. SJ Lycans booted the PAT for a 7-0 lead.

Pike Central answered back with two touchdowns on a Tyler Hunt QB sneak and Matt Anderson 9 yard touchdown to make it 12-7 at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter Gillispie broke several tackles on fourth on a 11 yard touchdown and Lycans kicked the extra point for a 14-12 lead with 10:20 left in the first half.

After the teams traded punts the Hawks drove inside the 10 with under a minute left in the half and faced a fourth down and completed a pass on the PCC sideline that looked like it was incomplete but the officials ruled he caught it and on the next play Hunt scored from two yards out to make it 26-20 at Halftime.

On the first play of the fourth quarter Hunt raced in from 20 yards out to make it 40-28 with 11:54 left in the game.

The Dawgs scored one minute later on a Gillespie 1 yard dive and Lycans tacked on the extra point to make it 40-35 with 10:54 left.

Anderson went in from 52 yards out and Keegan Bentley scored the two point conversion with 7:13 left to set the final score of 48-35.

The Bulldogs rushed for 326 yards led by Blue Fletcher with 172 yards on 12 carries, Gillespie 131 yards on 9 totes, Andrew Tackett 17 yards on 10 attempts, Brandon Fitch 1 for 4 yards, Brandon Davis 2 for 2 yards.

Gillespie completed 1 pass for 16 yards to Danny Hall.

Pike Co. Central had the ball for 32:04 and Lawrence Co. had it for 15:56 which was a huge part of the game.

The Hawks are 2-0 in District and the Dawgs are 1-1 these two teams could meet in the first round of the playoffs in November.

Lawrence Co. will travel to Pond Creek next Friday to face District favorite Belfry ( 4-2, 2-0 in District ).

Pike Co. Central will travel to Magoffin Co. ( 2-5 ) for a District matchup next Friday.

Lawrence Co. Head Coach Alan Short

COACH’S COMMENTS

“… Was a classic high school football game they just made a couple more plays then we did when it mattered most, really think both teams are evenly matched. Proud of our kids for the effort they gave tonight. Never satisfied with a loss, but I can see the growth in our team.”

“… We are getting better at every position, that’s a testament to the work that our kids are putting in every day. Not happy with the loss by any means but hopefully we will see this team again down the road.”

“… We are going to continue to grow and go back to it on Monday and try and get better. People don’t realize how young we are but I love the effort. We will go to Pond Creek next week and give Belfry a run for their money.”

GAME STATS BY JAMES ELLIS