Georgetown Kentucky
October 25, 2002
©2002 by Ron Harrison
Paul L. Dunbar (5-3) vs. Scott County (8-0) October 25, 2002
This is a very important district game with the winner taking a giant step toward clinching the district title. Mark Peach's Dunbar Bulldogs have a very effective passing attack led by QB Josh Ellis, a 6-2 190 pound senior. Ellis has completed 111 of 192 passes for 1834 yards and 15 touchdowns. Ellis' favorite targets have been 5-10 185 pound Sr. WR Aaron Mason and 6-3 220 pound Sr. TE Clint Keller. Mason has been utilized mainly as a receiver of late and the bulk of the ground gain has been handled by 5-10 170 pound Jr. Markell Webb and 5-10 185 pound So. Bobby Vyverberg. Dunbar has been getting excellent line play on both sides of the ball from their large and experienced line.
Coach Jim McKee has the Scott County Cardinals clicking on all cylinders this season and taking dead aim on their first 4A district championship. Scott County's productive ground game has been led by 5-11 177 pound Jr. Phillip Ray (480 yards, 8.0 average, 5 TDs), 5-9 159 pound So. Ted Sberna (332 yards, 7.5 average, 3 TDs), 5-11 164 pound Jr. Dondrece Christopher (330 yards, 9.2 average, 8 TDs), and 5-9 220 pound So. Percy Hargrove (319 yards, 5.1 average, 6 TDs). 5-11 150 pound Jr. QB Chris Cronin has completed 58 of 105 passes for 752 yards and eight scoring strikes. Cronin's favorite target this season has been 5-11 150 pound Sr. WR Ryan Rennecker with 38 receptions for 520 yards and seven scores. The aggressive Cardinal defense has recorded 11 blocked kicks, recovered 17 fumbles, and intercepted six passes.
Scott County outlasted Dunbar in a thriller to claim a 28-27 victory. This victory, coupled with Henry Clay's victory over Lafayette, allowed Scott County to clinch the district championship. Dunbar had a late opportunity for the victory but a Carson Kerr 37 yard field goal attempt with 20 seconds remaining on the clock was short. Scott County took a 12-0 lead but Dunbar cut the deficit to 12-7 with 14 seconds remaining in the first half on a 46 yard scoring strike from Josh Ellis to Aaron Mason. Scott County QB Chris Cronin showed his scrambling ability on a 4th and 16 play from the Dunbar 21 in the third quarter. He evaded pursuit by the Dunbar defenders until he spotted Brandon Goodwin alone in the corner of the end zone for a 21 yard scoring strike. Dunbar scored on TD runs of 33 and 10 yards by Bobby Vyverberg to take a 21-20 lead after three quarters.
Scott County took a 28-21 lead in the fourth quarter on a Cronin nine yard run and a two point conversion pass from Cronin to Phillip Ray. Dunbar closed the deficit to one, 28-27, on a 43 yard scoring strike from Josh Ellis to Aaron Mason. Dunbar failed on the extra point attempt with 2:12 left in the game. It appeared to be a bad snap for a kick and the rushing attempt failed. Dunbar got the ball with 1:36 left in the game and drove to the Scott County 20 yard line before they missed the late field goal attempt.
Dunbar held a 489-337 edge in total offense but was penalized nine times for 69 yards while Scott County was whistled three times for 20 yards. Scott County was led tonight by Chris Cronin, who gained 97 yards on the ground and 58 yards through the air. Cronin did a masterful job of directing the Cardinal offense. The Cards also got power running tonight from the "P-Train" Percy Hargrove. Scott County's defense was led by free safety Jason Howard with six solo and three assisted tackles. Dunbar was led tonight on offense by Josh Ellis, who completed 20 of 40 passes for 323 yards and two scoring strikes. Aaron Mason caught seven passes for 177 yards and two scores. Bobby Vyverberg led the ground attack with 85 yards and two scores on 11 carries. The Bulldog defense was led tonight by LB Ryan Combs with nine solo and four assisted tackles. Combs was also credited with an interception. DL Rick Jones added six solo and six assisted tackles.
Scoring Summary
| Scott County | 28 | Paul L. Dunbar | 27 |
| School | Q1 | Q2 | Q3 | Q4 | Final |
| Paul L. Dunbar | 0 | 7 | 14 | 6 | 27 |
| Scott County | 0 | 12 | 8 | 8 | 28 |
| SC | - Ted Sberna 5 yard run (kick failed) |
| SC | - Phillip Ray 17 yard run (run failed) |
| PLD | - Aaron Mason 46 yard pass from Josh Ellis (Carson Kerr kick) |
| SC | - Brandon Goodwin 21 yard pass from Chris Cronin (Percy Hargrove run) |
| PLD | - Bobby Vyverberg 33 yard run (Ryan Combs run) |
| PLD | - Vyverberg 10 yard run (pass failed) |
| SC | - Cronin 9 yard run (Ray pass from Cronin) |
| PLD | - Mason 43 yard pass from Ellis (run failed) |
Selected Statistics
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| Rushing | No. | Yds. | Avg. | Long | Rushing | No. | Yds. | Avg. | Long | |
| Bobby Vyverberg | 11 | 85 | 7.7 | 33 | Chris Cronin | 10 | 97 | 9.7 | 30 | |
| Markell Webb | 12 | 64 | 5.3 | 21 | Percy Hargrove | 17 | 86 | 5.1 | 22 | |
| Thurman Clay | 2 | 17 | 8.5 | 10 | Phillip Ray | 10 | 49 | 4.9 | 17 | |
| Ted Sberna | 8 | 42 | 5.2 | 15 | ||||||
| Courtney White | 4 | 8 | 2.0 | 3 | ||||||
| Passing | A-C-I | Yds. | TD | Long | Passing | A-C-I | Yds. | TD | Long | |
| Josh Ellis | 40-20-2 | 323 | 2 | 46 | Chris Cronin | 10-6-1 | 58 | 1 | 21 | |
| Receiving | No. | Yds. | TD | Long | Receiving | No. | Yds. | TD | Long | |
| Aaron Mason | 7 | 177 | 2 | 46 | Kyle Tucker | 3 | 20 | 0 | 14 | |
| Ryan Combs | 6 | 51 | 0 | 13 | Ryan Rennecker | 2 | 17 | 0 | 9 | |
| Bobby Vyverberg | 3 | 13 | 0 | 7 | Brandon Goodwin | 1 | 21 | 1 | 21 | |
| Monte Mayberry | 2 | 36 | 0 | 21 | ||||||
| Markell Webb | 1 | 26 | 0 | 26 | ||||||
| Clint Wheeler | 1 | 21 | 0 | 21 | ||||||
Acknowledgements
A special thanks to WL Stats for providing statistics for tonight's game. Also, a special thanks to the Scott County Stat Crew for the season stats provided for Scott County.
Other Games of Interest
| Henry Clay | 29 | Lafayette | 20 |
| Bryan Station | 16 | Tates Creek | 14 |
| Lexington Catholic | 53 | Franklin County | 0 |
| Breathitt County | 53 | Madison Southern | 0 |
| Madison Central | 23 | Southwestern | 20 |
| Male | 22 | St. Xavier | 0 |
| Paris | 18 | Fairview | 14 | |
| East Jessamine | 56 | Lincoln County | 0 | |
| Western Hills | 34 | Trimble County | 0 | |
| Boyle County | 68 | McCreary Central | 0 | |
| Berea | 24 | Lexington Christian | 12 | |
| Bell County | 58 | Perry Central | 36 | |
| Bourbon County | 17 | Harrison County | 14 | |
| Bullitt East | 24 | Waggener | 17 | |
| Clark County | 40 | South Laurel | 18 | |
| Conner | 30 | Simon Kenton | 14 | |
| Corbin | 62 | Adair County | 22 | |
| Evarts | 30 | Cumberland | 6 | |
| Highlands | 35 | Holmes | 0 | |
| Newport Central Catholic | 22 | Bellevue | 0 | |
| Pulaski County | 27 | Marion County | 13 | |
| Rockcastle County | 61 | Cawood | 0 | |
| Danville | 69 | Campbellsville | 14 | |
| Fairdale | 42 | Central | 22 | |
| Ironton (OH) | 42 | Belfry | 28 | |
| Mason County | 27 | Fleming County | 21 | |
| Meade County | 48 | Pleasure Ridge Park | 21 | |
| Somerset | 27 | Metcalfe County | 7 | |
| Trinity | 47 | Fern Creek | 0 |
