Introduction

Four quality football programs (Mason County, Paris, Althoff Catholic, and Lexington Catholic) will have the opportunity to showcase their talents on the beautiful synthetic turf at Joseph K. Ford Stadium.  This is a time to enjoy football and also a time to remember a true friend and supporter of Lexington Catholic who passed away in 2007--Mr. Joseph K. Ford.  Mr. Ford helped launch a football program at Lexington Catholic High School seventeen years ago.  Mr. Ford lived to see Lexington Catholic capture a state championship in 2005 and witnessed the growth of a program that taught these young men discipline, character, teamwork, and friendship.  These are traits that will remain far beyond their football careers.  It is only fitting that the Joseph K. Ford Bluegrass Bowl will be played at the Joseph K. Ford Stadium on the campus of Lexington Catholic High School.

Bowl History

Game One

Mason County (0-0) vs. Paris (0-0)

Coach David Buchanan's Mason County Royals finished 7-4 last season and should be one of the better teams in Class 3A this season.  The Royals offense should be led this season by 6-2 210 pound Sr. QB Richie Cox, 5-10 170 pound Jr. RB Jeremy Thompson, and 6-2 210 pound Sr. TE Jackson Tolle.  6-1 250 pound Sr. Ray Huron, 6-2 260 pound Sr. Wylie Brace, and 6-2 255 pound Sr. Chris Temple are expected to anchor the offensive line.

The Paris Greyhounds finished 7-4 last season but new head coach Matt Thompson will have to replace several key graduating players.  The Greyhounds enter the Class A wars this season with a relatively young but athletic group of players.  The defense should be anchored by 6-1 230 pound Sr. LB Travis Angel.  Paris has a talented RB in Jr. Tiion Thomas and a promising young QB in Fr. William Washington.  Sr. WR Zach Stevens and Sr. TE Zach Klimper are expected to be key receivers in the Paris offense.

Mason County utilized excellent line play and a punishing ground game (368 yards on 67 carries) to defeat Paris by a score of 27-7.  The Mason County defense was solid tonight as they held Paris to five first downs including only one first down in the first half.  Mason County recorded 24 first downs and 434 yards of total offense.  The Royals were penalized four times for 30 yards and and lost one fumble.  Paris had five first downs and 176 yards of total offense.  The Greyhounds were penalized three times for 15 yards and had two passes intercepted.  Mason County held a 31:33-16:27 advantage in clock time and a 73-36 advantage in plays.

The Mason County ground game was led by Jeremy Thompson with 178 yards and three touchdowns on 24 carries.  Cameron Pollitt added 77 yards on 13 carries.  Richie Cox carried the ball 18 times for 71 yards and a TD.  Cox completed three of six passes for 66 yards.  Jackson Tolle caught three passes for 66 yards.  Daniel Reed led the defense with six solo and one assisted tackles.  Wylie Brace added four solo tackles.  Jeremy Thompson was named player of the game for Mason County.

Tiion Thomas led the Paris ground attack with 97 yards and a TD on 14 carries.  William Washington completed five of 13 passes for 82 yards with two interceptions.  Jordan Stevens caught two passes for 49 yards.  Zach Klimper added two receptions for 22 yards.  Tiion Thomas led the defense with eight solo and three assisted tackles.  Cody Dumphord added five solo and five assisted tackles.  Thomas was named player of the game for Paris.

Scoring Summary

Mason County	27		Paris	7

School	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Mason County	6	7	7	7	27
Paris	0	0	7	0	7

MC	-	Richie Cox 1 yard run (Jessica Batey kick fails)
MC	-	Jeremy Thompson 3 yard run (Batey kick)
P	-	Tiion Thomas 45 yard run (Austin Brooks kick)
MC	-	Thompson 2 yard run (Batey kick)
MC	-	Thompson 6 yard run (Batey kick)

  Selected Statistics
 

Mason County						Paris
Rushing	No.	Yds.	Avg.	Long		Rushing	No.	Yds.	Avg.	Long
Jeremy Thompson	24	178	7.4	23		Tiion Thomas	14	97	6.9	45
Cameron Pollitt	13	77	5.9	13		William Washington	8	-2	-0.3	9
Richie Cox	18	71	3.9	21		team	1	-1	-1.0	0
Akeem Jackson	4	19	4.8	8
Joshy Huron	4	18	4.5	8
Jacob Turner	2	17	8.5	14
team	2	-12	-6.0	0
Passing	A-C-I	Yds.	TD	Long		Passing	A-C-I	Yds.	TD	Long
Richie Cox	6-3-0	66	0	23		William Washington	13-5-2	82	0	45
Receiving	No.	Yds.	TD	Long		Receiving	No.	Yds.	TD	Long
Jackson Tolle	3	66	0	23		Jordan Stevens	2	49	0	45
						Zach Klimper	2	22	0	13
						Lawrence Myers	1	11	0	11

Game Two

Althoff Catholic (0-0) vs. Lexington Catholic (0-0)

Coach Glen Schott's Althoff Catholic finished 7-3 last season and returns some excellent talent this season.  6-0 220 pound Sr. TB Jason Ford has rushed for 4624 yards and 53 touchdowns over the last three years.  6-4 195 pound Sr. QB Patrick Young and 5-11 185 pound Sr. WR Tommy Davis are also key returnees.

Coach Bill Letton's Lexington Catholic Knights finished 10-2 last season and should have another excellent season.  5-7 185 pound Sr. RB Shane Israel ran for 1378 yards and scored 26 touchdowns last season.  The Knights have a veteran offensive line anchored by 6-3 304 pound Sr. Sam Plomin, 6-2 235 pound Sr. Robert Swieterman, 6-4 289 pound Sr. Andy Mahoney, and 6-5 240 pound Sr. Ben Hume.  Some of the key returning defenders include 5-10 227 pound Sr. DL Andres Rodriguez, 6-4 240 pound Sr. DE Zach Yoko, 6-1 190 pound Sr. LB Matt Payne, 5-10 173 pound Sr. John Meikel, 6-4 210 pound Sr. SS Nick Vicini, 6-2 195 pound Sr. SS Winston Guy, and 6-3 195 pound Jr. FS Will Letton. 

Lexington Catholic displayed an explosive offense tonight, rolling up 26 first downs and 502 yards in a 65-28 rout of Althoff Catholic.  Althoff Catholic was missing two injured starters and are not allowed to have pre-season scrimmages in Illinois.  The Knights did suffer a key injury as Shane Israel suffered a dislocated kneecap in the first half and is expected to be out 1-2 weeks.

Lexington Catholic recorded 26 first downs and 502 yards of total offense.  The Knights were penalized 12 times for 116 yards.  Althoff Catholic had 14 first downs and 373 yards of total offense.  They were penalized five times for 41 yards, lost one fumble, and had a pass intercepted. 

Shane Israel led the Lexington Catholic ground game with 130 yards and three touchdowns on 14 carries.  Greg Raglin carried the ball nine times for 73 yards and a TD.  Nic Ward completed 25 of 32 passes for 249 yards and two touchdowns.  Shane Israel caught five passes for 35 yards and a touchdown.  Daniel Vogelsang added four receptions for 64 yards.  Miles Nallia also caught four passes for 33 yards.  Will Letton led the defense with five solo and two assisted tackles.  Nick Vicini added two solo and six assisted tackles.  Shane Israel was named player of the game for Lexington Catholic.

Jason Ford led the Althoff Catholic ground game with 168 yards and an 80 yard TD run on 19 carries.  Patrick Young completed eight of 18 passes for 188 yards with two touchdowns and one interception.  Tommy Davis caught four passes for 147 yards and two touchdowns.  Richard Burrell added four receptions for 41 yards.  T. Reifschneider led the defense with four solo and four assisted tackles.  Travion Jackson added five solo and one assisted tackles.  Jason Ford was named player of the game for Althoff Catholic.

Scoring Summary

Lexington Catholic	65		Althoff Catholic	28

School	Q1	Q2	Q3	Q4	Final
Althoff Catholic	6	0	6	16	28
Lexington Catholic	20	28	17	0	65

LC	-	Shane Israel 1 yard run (Lane Pumphrey kick)
AC	-	Tommy Davis 75 yard pass from Patrick Young (Jason Ford run fails)
LC	-	Nic Ward 31 yard run (Pumphrey kick)
LC	-	Israel 2 yard run (Pumphrey kick fails)
LC	-	Israel 16 yard pass from Ward (Pumphrey kick)
LC	-	Israel 12 yard run (Pumphrey kick)
LC	-	Winston Guy 25 yard pass from Ward (Pumphrey kick)
LC	-	Andres Rodriguez 24 yard interception return (Pumphrey kick)
AC	-	Jason Ford 80 yard run (Patrick Young pass fails)
LC	-	Pumphrey 44 yard run
LC	-	Greg Raglin 5 yard run (Pumphrey kick)
LC	-	Miles Nallia 3 yard run (Pumphrey kick)
AC	-	Patrick Young 12 yard run (Ford run)
AC	-	Davis 60 yard pass from Young (Montra Cozart pass from Young)

 

Acknowledgements

A special thanks to WL Stats for the comprehensive stats provided for tonight's games.  Also, a special thanks to Lexington Catholic athletic director Dave Bunnell for the hospitality extended me during this event. 

Other Games of Interest

Please see Week 1 in Review.

Please send your comments and questions to Ron Harrison at prepgridiron@yahoo.com.

Ron Harrison’s reports on this and other football events appear on https://www.angelfire.com/ky2/prepgridiron.