Hamilton Wilson topped 1,500 rushing yards for the season in Doss’ 52-32 victory over Highlands on Friday.
GAME BALLS
Hamilton Wilson, Doss
The senior rushed for 314 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries to lead the Dragons to a 52-32 victory over Highlands.
Wilson did it all for the Dragons on Friday, including a brief stint as a trainer.
The 5-foot-8, 188-pound senior rushed for 314 yards and three touchdowns on 32 carries to lead the Dragons to a 52-32 victory over visiting Highlands in the first round of the Class 5-A playoffs.
Wilson came out of the game late in the first quarter after dislocating his right shoulder. Wilson said he popped the shoulder back into place himself before returning to the game late in the second quarter.
“I was determined to get back in,” Wilson said. “I wasn’t going to let my team down.”
Wilson helped the Dragons tally 471 rushing yards, as Quion Lee (12 carries, 87 yards, one touchdown) and Christian McClain (five carries, 76 yards, two TDs) also had big games.
His team already up 17-0, Wilson bolted 62 yards for a touchdown on the first play of the second half for a 24-0 lead.
“I saw the linebackers coming down on the blitz, and I saw the outside wide-open,” Wilson said. “In the past we’ve not been doing well in the third quarter, so we had to start it off strong so we could get this win.”
Wilson is enjoying a monster senior season for the Dragons and now has 1,518 yards and 15 touchdowns on 196 carries (7.7 yards per carry).
Both Wilson and Doss coach Phillip Hawkins gave credit to the offensive line and the lead blocking of Lee at fullback.
“He’s a game-changer,” Wilson said of Lee. “I just know he’s going to go in there and do his job.”
Doss will travel to Covington Catholic for a second-round game Friday, but the Dragons weren’t quite ready to look ahead after an historic victory over Highlands.
“This is only the 13th playoff win in Doss history, and it’s against a very good team traditionally,” Wilson said. “We just thank our coach for putting it in our heads that we could do it.”
Cam Harris, Collins
The sophomore defensive back recorded four interceptions to help the Titans beat Western 43-6.
FRIDAY NIGHT LIGHTS
–Scott County (9-2) built a 36-0 lead in the first quarter and beat visiting Jeffersontown 55-6 in Class 6-A. Kristian Mayes rushed for 158 yards and a touchdown on 21 carries to lead the Chargers (1-10).
–B.J. Robinson completed 19 of 24 passes for 277 yards and two touchdowns to lead Pleasure Ridge Park (7-4) to a 33-10 victory at McCracken County (7-4) in Class 6-A.
–Gavin Curry’s 12-yard touchdown run in overtime lifted Bullitt Central (8-3) to a 31-24 victory at Anderson County (4-7) in Class 5-A. Anderson County’s overtime drive stalled at the 5-yard line.
–Zac Clark (27 carries, 145 yards) and Curry (15 carries, 109 yards, three touchdowns) led the Cougars.
–Beau Allen completed 7 of 10 passes for 188 yards and four touchdowns to lead Lexington Catholic (8-3) to a 55-22 victory over visiting Waggener (6-5) in Class 3-A. Waggener’s Brandon Jones rushed for 177 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
NEWS AND NOTES
–Casey County improved to 9-1, setting a single-season school record for victories, with a 48-12 victory over Powell County in the Class 3-A first round.
Casey County coach Steve Stonebraker wrote in an email to The Courier-Journal that the Rebels played with “heavy hearts” after senior linebacker Chase Emerson was involved in a car accident Thursday. Stonebraker, who coached at Jeffersontown last year, wrote that Emerson is in stable condition.
“It was a great effort by our kids to honor their teammate,” Stonebraker wrote. “It was a serious accident and Chase won’t be able to return to the field for us but he is definitely still with us emotionally.”
Casey County will play at Estill County (9-2) in the second round.
–Elizabethtown’s Mark Brown became the ninth coach in state history – and second this year – to reach 300 career victories when the Panthers beat Fort Campbell 49-0 in the first round of the Class 3-A playoffs.
Brown, in his 35th season as a head coach, has a career record of 300-129. He previously coached at Marion County, Nelson County and John Hardin.
Southwestern’s Larry French got his 300th victory earlier this season.
–With only the suspended Butler-Lafayette game to be decided, No. 1 seeds were 43-1 against No. 4 seeds in the first round of the playoffs.
Pleasure Ridge Park was the only No. 4 seed to beat a No. 1 in its 34-10 victory at McCracken County.
POWER FIVE
Each week Jason Frakes will provide his ranking of the top five teams in the state, regardless of class:
No. 5 – Scott County (9-2). Seven different players scored a touchdown in a 55-6 victory over Jeffersontown. Up next: Hosts Conner (9-2) on Friday in second round of Class 6-A playoffs.
No. 4 – Male (9-2). T.J. Thomas threw three touchdown passes as the Bulldogs whipped Daviess County 38-7. Up next: Hosts Pleasure Ridge Park (7-4) on Friday in second round of Class 6-A playoffs.
No. 3 – St. Xavier (8-3). Three different quarterbacks combined for five touchdown passes as the Tigers rolled past Muhlenberg County 63-14. Up next: Hosts Manual (9-2) on Friday in second round of Class 6-A playoffs.
No. 2 – Bowling Green (11-0). Clark Payne threw four touchdown passes in a 43-14 victory over Marshall County. Up next: Hosts Christian County (9-2) on Friday in second round of Class 5-A playoffs.
No. 1 – Trinity (11-0). The Shamrocks outgained Ohio County 402-33 yards in a 69-0 rout. Up next: Hosts Eastern (5-6) on Friday in second round of Class 6-A playoffs.
Jason Frakes can be reached at (502) 582-4046 and jfrakes@courier-journal.com.