Throwinglong

Congrats to PT. They had a good run when it counted. It was an ugly win, but it doesn't matter. They have won the state championship. Congrats to Somerset as well. You made the long trip to state. I know it is no concelation, but you were one of two teams from 3A that made it to the carpet and that is an accomplishment to be proud of. It is something to build on next year. And now all the teams in 3A start a new for 2010. Back to work.

John Hardin can be stopped, if Oldham is willing to make the adjustments to stop them. If all they do is run the wing-t, it requires the defense to stay home and not over pursue. Oldham has a good enough offense to compete, but if they do not make adjustments on defense then John Hardin will move on.

Congrats to Union... They took advantage of mistakes by McLean. It was 6-2 at half.

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This game is for all the marbles. Union County and McLean County are both 2-0 in the district. The last couple of years Union County has had McLean County's number. Both teams are coming off of wins in district competition. Union County defeated Webster County 41-6. McLean County beat Paducah Tilghman 28-6. Who brings home the district championship?

PT was ahead 6-0 at half after a special teams miscue set them up deep in McLean territory. It was another special team's miscue, this time by Tilghman that set up the go ahead touchdown in the Third quarter. After an offsides by the punting team the center blew the snap and McLean was able to get the ball deep in Tilghman territory. On a 4-and-11 from about the 20 yard line, Spencer Phillips threw up a prayer on a half-back pass and hit Derrick Hardin in the end zone. The point after was good and it was 7-6 McLean. The next score came in the Fourth quarter on a drive by McLean that was capped by Spencer Phillips running it in from inside the 10 yard line. Extra point was good and the score was 14-6. McLean would pick off a Tilghman pass and run it in for a Touchdown and the extra point made it 21-6. Spencer Phillips would finish the scoring with a twenty yard run for a score with about a minute left in the fourth quarter. The extra point made it 28-6. Tilghman would get a good kickoff return, but on third down Tilghman was picked for the last time and McLean ran out the clock. Tilghman was able to slow McLean's running attack and some costly mistakes almost cost McLean the game. In the end, McLean found a way to win. The district championship is on the line next Friday night in Morganfield as McLean takes on Union County who defeated Webster County this evening.

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McLean, coming off two tough losses, take a road trip to face their former coach, Marcus Kimbrell and Daviess County. Daviess County is coming off a tough loss to Owensboro. Who comes out this week with a win?

Congrats to CC! I give them a lot of credit on the win. Good luck the rest of the season.

McLean is 20 minutes South of Owensboro. We did play Mayfield in the playoffs, but that has been about six years ago and we came there. And yes, it does seem like the high school is in the middle of nowhere. Crittenden seems to work from many formations and has a well disciplined team. Berry is there best runner and does a great job. This will be a very tough game for McLean.

Crittenden County has started off well after last year's deep playoff run. McLean County is coming off a tough loss to Allen County-Scottsville. The game will be played at McLean. It has been a couple of years since these rivals have played each other. Who wins this game Friday?

Allen County-Scottsville was dominate. Will have more information later. Congrats to the Patriots.

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By the way, I must correct myself. Bradley Hood did not graduate from McLean County, but he did attend McLean County while his dad, Royce, coached here.

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Spencer would have had a break out year last year but it was cut short in the fourth game when he had a freak hip injury that put him out for the year. He has recovered nicely and makes a complete backfield with fullback Troy Woodburn and Quarterback David Burden. Let's not forget to give credit to the hogs upfront. For without them, Spencer gets nowhere.

After gaining its first win of the season, McLean County (1-1) makes the trip to Allen County-Scottsville (1-0). Allen County defeated Butler County last week 41-14. This will be a reunion of sorts as Allen County's coach Bradley Hood will coach against his Alma Mater, McLean County. Can McLean County survive the bus ride and bring home a win or do the Patriots take this one at home?

McLean turns in a solid night as they win their first game of the season over Todd County; 54-15. Todd County had some speed and a Boards has a good arm, but they are young. They will improve with time. The scoring started early with a 54-yard pass from David Burden to Spencer Phillips for the first score with 11:44 to play in the first quarter. Logan DeGraef's point after was no good and the score was 6-0. Todd County got the ball back only to turn it over on downs. Three plays later, with 6:30 remaining in the first quarter, Spencer Phillips runs it in from 13 yards. The two point conversion was no good and the score was 12-0. Todd County would have it for four plays before giving up one of three fumbles on the night. It took McLean County six plays to score on a 52-yard pass from David Burden to Spencer Phillips. The two point run by Burden was good to make it 20-0. Todd County would turn it over on downs and McLean went back to work. After seven plays and with 8:37 left in the second quarter, Spencer Phillips scored on a one yard run. The point after kick by DeGraef was good and its 27-0. Todd County would have it four more plays and McLean to the ball over again. After 11 plays and three plus minutes, McLean turn the ball over on downs back to Todd. Todd would have it for one play before fumbling the ball back to McLean. David Burden on the second play would skirt 42-yards for a touchdown with 2:47 left in the half. DeGraef's point after was good and the score was 34-0. Todd County would get the ball back only to fumble it back to McLean just before closing out the half. The second half started with a successful onside by McLean. McLean would take six plays to score on a 9 yard run by Spencer Phillips. DeGraef's kick was no good and the score was 40-0. Todd County and McLean would trade possessions before Todd got a long drive against McLean's JV. They were stopped on the 4 later in the Third quarter. On the first play for McLean from the four, Spencer Phillips makes a spectacular 60 yard run up the sidelines. Two plays later Troy Woodburn would plunge across from nine yards out for the score. DeGraef's kick was good and with 1:38 to play in the third quarter it was McLean in front 47-0. At this point the running clock started. Todd County would get a sustained drive going on the passing of Boards and score with 6:46 left. Their two point conversion succeeded and the score was 47-8. It would only take McLean six plays to score their final score of the night with 3:22 to play on a pass from David Burden to Tyler Ashton for six yards. DeGraef's final point after was good and the score was 54-8. Todd County would have one last quick drive and score on a 30-yard pass from Boards to Nathan Fort with 31.2 seconds left. Their extra point kick was good. Todd County tried an onside and failed. Time ran out. For McLean County, David Burden was 7-13 for 170 yards. His main receiver was Spencer Phillips who had three catches for 97 yards. On the rushing end of things, Spencer Phillips had 18 carries for 222 yards. David Burden added 74 yards. Troy Woodburn contributed 26 yards and Anthony Head added 40 yards. McLean would total 362 yards rushing for a total offensive output of 532 yards. For Todd County, Jeffery Boards was 7-16 for 155 yards. His favorite wide out was Nathan Fort who total six catches for 142 yards. Todd County had a number of backs who all carried the ball be led by Boards with 10 rushes for 48 yards. Todd County had 77 yards rushing total and a total offensive output of 232 yards. Next up for McLean County will be a tough test against Allen County-Scottsville at their place next Friday at 7 p.m. Todd County will seek win number one of the season back at Elkton in a game versus Reidland next Friday night.

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After losing in the last seconds to Owensboro Catholic, McLean will stay in the friendly confines of Paulsen Stadium for one more week to take on Todd County Central. Todd County comes off a week one loss to Hart County. Who will gain their first win of the season?

McLean opened the scoring on a 90 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. After kicking an onside and recovering, McLean couldn't move the ball and turned it over on downs. On Catholic's first possesion, they started moving the ball only to fumble for the first of four times on the night. McLean took the ball and drove down the field scoring but missing the point after: 13-0. On Catholic's next possession, they drove on McLean with some excellent passing and scored. The point after made it 13-7. On McLean's next drive late in the first quarter drove and scored. A two point conversion pass by Troy Woodburn to Dakota West made the score 21-7. Mclean would take advantage of another Catholic turnover and turn it into seven points to finish their scoring in the second quarter: 28-7. With about four minutes to play, Catholic struck quickly and scored making it 28-14. A timely fumble deep in McLean territory set up the last Catholic score of the half: 28-21. The second half started quickly with Catholic striking first to tie things up at 28 a piece. McLean fumbled the ball and Catholic was able to take their first lead of the night at 35-28. McLean's next possession would eat up a lot of clock in the third quarter and culminated in a score knotting it at 35. Catholic would strike quickly in the fourth and go ahead 42-35. McLean drained the clock in the fourth quarter scoring on a two yard run from Spencer Phillips with 40 seconds left in the game. McLean decided to sweep right and Phillips was caught on the one yard line by the safety making it 41-42. An onside attempt by McLean failed and Catholic kneeled it out to win. The Hayden kid had 70 yards rushing. Harvey threw for 236 yards and 4 touchdowns. For McLean County, Spencer Phillips ran for 180 yards, Troy Woodburn add 90 more, along with two other runners; McLean ended with 326 yards rushing. Unfortunately for McLean, some untimely errors and bad tackling cost them the game.

It is the first game of the season for both teams this Friday night. OC has been a perenial playoff team with two state runner-ups in football. McLean has had back to back 5-6 seasons ending in the first game of the playoffs. Which of these teams will end up winning their first game of 2009?

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