TURNOVERS KILL WILDCATS

Lebanon High took advantage of two costly Wilson Central turnovers and converted both into touchdowns Friday night in a 21-11 victory over their cross-county rival at Nokes-Lasater Field.

"You can't even believe how proud I am of our young men," said LHS coach Bobby Brown. "This senior class didn't win a game as ninth graders, but they stayed 20-21 strong, hung with it and kept working. This is their reward tonight. You can't say enough about these kids."

Trailing 3-0 with 18 seconds left in the second quarter, Lebanon sophomore Case Sloan recovered a Hunter Cranford fumble at the WCHS 30 yard line. Two plays later Patrick Maynard found Phillip Vance in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard TD pass. With Colton McKay's PAT, LHS took a 7-3 lead into intermission.

"The turnover right before half made all the difference in the world," Coach Brown said, "it killed Central's emotions and lifted us up."

Following a scoreless third period, LHS broke ahead 14-3 as Maynard again found Vance for a 29-yard TD pass -- this one off a flanker reverse. The play ended a nine play. 74 yard drive that was made possible when a Blue Devil defender stripped Jordan Poole of the ball -- allowing Jordan Stafford to recover.

LHS iced the game with 4:36 left as the Blue Devils marched 80 yards in nine plays (all on the ground) for a one-yard Maynard plunge off left guard.

For the game, Lebanon was 6-of-9 passing for 90 yards and rushed 37 times for 134 yards. Central completed 20-of-27 passes for 175 yards and rushed 30 times for 74 yards.

Maynard accounted for all three Lebanon TD's, rushing 14 times for 91 yards and a score and completing 3-of-3 passes for 59 yards and two more scores. He also punted 6 times for an avarage of 38.1 per kick and had a 60 yard return of the second half kickoff.

Lebanon will return to action Aug. 28 as the Blue Devils travel to Montgomery County for a 7 p.m. game with Rossview High.

Hunter Cranford completed 20-of-27 passes for Wilson Central for 175 yards. Jordan Poole rushed 13 times for 68 yards in the losing effort.

Central's only points came on a 25 yard field goal by Jackson Redditt with 8:52 to go in the first quarter.

INJURIES -- Central linebacker Caleb Barber and Lebanon defense end Bryce Arnold both left the field on crutches after suffering leg injuries. Both young men will be evaluated Monday.