The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Powerful Golden Eagles stop LCC’s run



TOUGH ENDING TO A NICE SEASON — Letcher Central senior Trevor Branham sits heartbroken after the Cougars’ season-ending loss to Johnson Central. The Cougars fell to the Class 4A powerhouse Golden Eagles, 50-14, in the playoffs to end the 2021 season with a 7-4 record. (Photo by Chris Anderson)

TOUGH ENDING TO A NICE SEASON — Letcher Central senior Trevor Branham sits heartbroken after the Cougars’ season-ending loss to Johnson Central. The Cougars fell to the Class 4A powerhouse Golden Eagles, 50-14, in the playoffs to end the 2021 season with a 7-4 record. (Photo by Chris Anderson)

Letcher County Central’s 2021 football season ended in the second round of the state playoffs with a 50-14 loss to Johnson Central last Friday night in a game the Cougars had tied at 14-14 midway through the second quarter.

The final score was not indicative to how close the contest was in the first half.

“We played hard against a really good team,” said LCC head coach Junior Matthews. “I can’t say enough about my kids’ effort. I felt really good about how we were able to grab the momentum in the second quarter when we tied the game up. Second-half turnovers really took away our chances. It has been an amazing season. This group of seniors are really special young men and football players. A very dedicated bunch that have left an incredible legacy in our program. We will miss them terribly.”

Johnson Central received the opening kickoff and struck first with a 34-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Grant Rice to Jacob Cain on a corner route in back of end zone. The extra point gave the Golden Eagles a 7-0 lead early in the first quarter.

After the Cougar offense went three and out, Rice scored on a quarterback keeper around the left side on the line for a 10-yard touchdown run to increase the lead to 14-0 after a lengthy 13-play, 74-yard drive.

The LCC offense put an impressive drive together that was capped off by a one-yard touchdown run by Isaac Matthews. The drive started with a 22-yard run up the middle by Carson Adams. On the next play, Adams completed a pass on a slant pattern to Nicolas Haning. Two plays later on third and two, Adams kept the ball on a read option play for an eightyard gain and first down for the Cougars. An 11-yard run by Adams took the ball down to the one-yard line where Matthews would score on the next play. Jonah Little made the extra point to make it 14-7 early in the second quarter.

After the Cougar defense held strong and forced a Johnson Central punt, LCC showed the quick strike offensive capabilities it has shown all year. Adams connected with Haning for an 83-yard touchdown. Adams used an excellent pump fake and Haning ran a double move to get behind the defense for the long score. The extra point split the uprights to tie the game up at 14-14 midway through the second quarter.

Johnson Central quickly answered when Rice faked a handoff to running back Matt Crum then followed Crum through a hole in the defense for a 70-yard touchdown run. The extra point gave the Golden Eagles the lead once again at 21-14.

LCC went three and out. Crum took a handoff around the right side of the line for a 56-yard touchdown to make it 28-14 at halftime after the extra point was good.

Letcher Central got the ball to start the second half. On the third play Johnson Central defender Chase Price was rushing the passer but then saw a crossing route and dropped back to intercept the pass.

Running back Carter Conley took the handoff out of a wishbone formation and scored from 24-yards out to increase the lead to 35-14.

On the subsequent LCC punt, Cougar Trevor Branham made an excellent play and tackled the returner as soon as he caught the punt at the Johnson Central 33- yard line.

The Golden Eagles used a methodical 17-play drive to bleed time off the clock. The drive culminated with a one-yard touchdown run on a fullback dive by Price to make it 42-14 after the extra point was good.

A 19-yard run by Adams got the next offensive drive started. Two plays later a leaping interception by Johnson Central derailed the drive.

Johnson Central would tack on one more score to make the final 50-14.

Carson Adams finished his fantastic season by completing 10 passes on 17 attempts for 157 yards and a touchdown. Adams also rushed for 64 yards on 13 carries. Nicholas Haning caught six passes for 124 yards and used an amazing double move for his touchdown. Jonah Little had three receptions for 29 yards. Hayden Brashear had 21 rushing yards on six carries.

The LCC defense was led by the trio of Trevor Branham, Kaden Barnette and Quinton Williams, each of whom had 11 tackles. Keaton Day and Dale Webb had nine tackles each for the Cougars.

Letcher Central finished the season with a 7-4 record and backto back seasons with playoff victories for the first time since 2009.

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