Entering Friday, the Scott Eagles were winners in three of their last four games. But their visitors in Taylor Mill were also on a roll.
Boyd County’s best season in 14 years continued as the Lions (6-3 overall) moved to 3-0 in 4A District 6 play with a 34-13 win against the host Eagles (4-4). Boyd Co. hasn’t had a season finish above .500 since 2008.
Boyd County was unable to take advantage of Scott’s first forced turnover in a blocked punt but Lion senior defensive back Trey Holbrook intercepted Eagles senior quarterback Dasani Lane on a throw back across the middle of the field as he ran to his right trying to avoid the Lions rush.
Boyd County sophomore quarterback Rhett Holbrook then found senior tight end Josh Thornton for 13 yards over the middle to put the Lions inside the Scott 40. One play later, Holbrook found sophomore running back Cam Collins downfield for a 25-yard touchdown and a 7-0 lead.
After the Eagles went three-and-out, the Lions only needed two plays to find the end zone. Senior running back Malichi Wheeler’s first down run was called back on a holding penalty, but Holbrook spotted his brother Trey Holbrook on a slant and the senior wide receiver raced 63 yards for the Lions second score of the opening quarter with time ticking away in the first quarter.
Scott would bounce back to begin the second putting together a long drive that took nearly eight minutes of the quarter, culminating in senior running back Bennie Hill’s five-yard touchdown run. The two-point conversion was stopped just short of the goal line on a close call leaving the Eagles with an eight-point deficit at 14-6.
Boyd’s third consecutive scoring possession featured repeated doses of Wheeler getting the ball five straight times leading the Lions on their 86-yard drive, with Thompson’s first carry of the night placing Boyd inside the Scott five-yard line. On first-and-goal, Holbrook kept it himself for three yards into the end zone giving Boyd County a 20-6 halftime lead.
Boyd’s surprising success continued into the second half, and it went for the big play out of the gate on its first possession. Facing second-and-eight on its own 46, Rhett Holbrook spotted Trey Holbrook down the left sideline to the Eagles 31. Wheeler then shot through the middle of the Scott defense for a 31-yard TD and a commanding 27-6 lead for the Lions.
With time and opportunities to close the gap slipping away for the Eagles, the offense was unable to muster momentum on their drive, only gaining 18 total yards as Lane was sacked on fourth down still in Eagles territory. Then, Wheeler’s second touchdown of the half extended Boyd’s lead to 34-6 early in the final quarter and Hill’s short touchdown run with just under two minutes remaining was just a little too late for Scott as the Eagles dropped their first district contest this year.
Boyd County had 348 yard in total offense on 47 plays for an average of 7.5 yards per play and Scott had 209 yards on 60 plays for an average of between three and four per play. The Lions outrushed the Eagles, 227-131. Wheeler led the Lions with 167 yards on 23 carries and two touchdowns averaging between seven and eight yards per carry. Hill had 98 yards on 21 carries and two touchdowns for Scott averaging between four and five yards per carry.
The Eagles continue district play next Friday in Covington at 7 p.m. against county rival Holmes (5-3). A home playoff game could be at stake in this game.