Lexington Catholic

Even if things don't go well early in the season, virtually every football team wants to be rounding into form by the time district play begins, and surely Mercer County is no different. But the Titans face a taller order than most teams as they begin their district schedule this week with a game at Lexington Catholic. While Mercer has struggled to find success so far, its opponent in their first game in Class AAAA, District 5 has emerged as one of the top teams in the state in the first half of the season.

East Jessamine junior Devon Burnside scored five goals in two games last week to help improve the Lady Jags' record to 9-3-0. Coming off a 3-1 loss to Mercy last Wednesday at the Little Caesars Classic in Boyle County, Burnside scored three goals in a 5-2 romp of Bethlehem on Saturday; she also had an assist. Victoria Slade and Ashley Taylor scored as well, and Slade and Danielle Lee each had an assist. Monday night in the rain against Model, Burnside scored twice to help East to a 4-1 win over the Patriots.

Boyle County won two games Monday in the Florida Beach Bash at Fort Walton Beach, Fla., beating Lexington Catholic 8-1 and Paul Dunbar 9-8. Lauren Richards singled home two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning to cap a 5-for-6 day as Boyle (8-3) rallied to defeat Dunbar (4-2) in its second game and improve to 3-0 in the spring break event. Richards went 3 for 4 for the Rebels, who came back after surrendering a 7-3 lead. Lindsey Edwards, Heather Hasty and K.K. Davis had two hits each.

LEXINGTON — The streak is over for George Rogers Clark. Lexington Catholic rallied from a 12-point deficit in the second half and handed the Lady Cardinals their first loss of the new calendar year with a 59-53 triumph Tuesday night. The loss broke an eight-game winning streak for Clark, which hadn’t lost since a 68-58 setback to Owensboro Catholic on Dec. 27 in the National Guard Holiday Classic. Clark coach Scott True was disappointed in his team’s demeanor following the contest.

Sydney Harris scored 16 points and grabbed five rebounds to help lead Lincoln in a 44-40 win over North Laurel on day two of the Republic Bank Holiday Classic at Lexington Catholic. The Lady Patriots (4-3) trailed the Lady Jaguars 22-17 at the half, but had wiped out the deficit by the close of the third quarter, outscoring North Laurel 17-9 to go on top 34-31. The two teams battled it out in a close fourth quarter, however, a 10-9 scoring edge by Lincoln assured the Lady Pats of the victory.

PINEVILLE — Setting a state record was nice, but not nearly as special as making a field goal that helped put Boyle County back in the Class AAAA championship game. Sophomore William Harris broke the state record of 76 consecutive extra points in Boyle’s semifinal win over Lexington Catholic. He extended his state-record streak to 83 by adding three more conversions Friday in the Rebels’ 25-21 win over Bell County in the state semifinals. However, Harris’ most important play of the season was a 22-yard field goal midway through the fourth period that stretched Boyle’s lead to 25-15 and more than negated a late Bell touchdown.

Boyle County coach Larry French knew Lexington Catholic quarterback Kyle Bolin was going to air it out Friday. And while the Knights lit up the Boyle defense, the Rebels’ offense had every answer and outgunned Catholic 45-35 in the Class AAAA, Region 3 final at Rebel Stadium. Devon Cox ran for 213 yards with scoring runs of 57 and 61 yards, William Harris set a state kicking record and Lamar Dawson added a pair of late scores to help hold off the Knights and set up a state semifinal matchup with Bell County on Friday.

If there is one thing that sticks out in seniors Bryan Ferrell, Chris Cook, Lamar Dawson and Paul Megilligan’s minds about Boyle County’s loss to Bell County two years ago — the last time the Rebels have tasted defeat — it’s turnovers. The Rebels entered the game that night with a remarkable 10 miscues in 13 games, but committed seven on that cold, dreary night and suffered a disappointing 17-15 semifinal loss that delayed their dream of a sixth state championship.

Larry French expects more from Lexington Catholic. Boyle County's 32-point victory over the Knights last month was not a typical result for this series, and the Rebels' coach said he thinks Lexington Catholic will be a better team when they cross paths again Friday night. They'll play at Rebel Stadium for the Class AAAA, Region 3 championship, marking the fourth consecutive year and the seventh time in 13 years these two teams have met in the postseason. And French said Lexington Catholic (7-5)

State Cross Country Championships Results Saturday At Kentucky Horse Park Lexington (All races 3.1 miles) CLASS A Boys (27 teams, 210 runners) Team leaders — 1. St Henry 78; 2. Bishop Brossart 85; 3. Ownesboro Catholic 114. Winner — Dominic Perronie (Louisville Holy Cross) 16:15.. Area runners — 20. Alex Beckerson (Burgin) 17:15; 53. Calvin Steber (Danville) 18:11; 101. Devan Lay (Burgin) 18:57; 116. Travis McEachern (Burgin) 19:14. Girls (23 teams, 172 runners)