Conner’s dominant run game helped spoil Dixie Heights’ homecoming game Friday night as the Cougars pulled out a 35-31 win on the road.
The Cougars racked up 301 rushing yards as they’ve positioned themselves now for a chance at a home playoff game.
Early on, the game was figuring to be a shootout with a combined 28 first quarter points. Igniting the offenses was big plays as an early pass from Dixie quarterback Mason Fields resulted in a 62-yard grab and touchdown by junior Nishawn Golsby. The Cougars responded on back-to-back possessions as Conner quarterback Wyatt Hatfield rushed for 32 and 42-yard touchdowns to make it 15-7.
“When the time was right, we made the big play,” Conner head coach David Trosper said. “It was the key tonight, but it starts with trusting that our guys can produce those types of plays more and more each week.”
Conner scored twice more in the second to extend their lead to 29-13, one of which included a fourth down conversion that turned into a 25-yard touchdown run to mark Hatfield’s third of the game and 18th of the season.
“I think we missed a few key tackles in the first half that put ourselves in a difficult position in the second half,” Dixie Heights head coach Pat Burke said. “Against a solid team like Conner, the little things are what matter most.”
With less than a minute left in the half, Fields found receiver Hudson Morris for a 45-yard touchdown on a five-play drive to give the Colonels what they thought would be second half momentum and trailing 29-19. That was until Conner’s Andrew Herron sailed a 57-yard field goal between the uprights in the closing seconds of the half.
“Somebody needs to get that guy (Herron) a scholarship,” Trosper said. “We practice with him every week in those situations. He’s got ice in his veins, but that has to be some sort of record.”
Indeed it was as Herron’s kick now ties for the fourth longest in KHSAA history. The kick also gave the Cougars a 32-19 lead at the half.
Unable to get consistent stops on the defensive end, the Colonels would need to dig deep if they were to stop the Cougars high-octane run game. Dixie got their first stop after Herron’s second 50-yard field goal attempt missed just wide.
A stop turned into a score as senior David Anderson finished off a long Colonels drive with a one-yard touchdown run to make it 32-25 with 3:04 left in the third.
“We really just started to settle down and play our base defense in the second half,” Burke said. “We kept fighting and gave ourselves a shot to not only come back but to go out and win it in the end.”
Conner had a chance to make it a two-possession game again, but Trosper made the crucial decision to go for it on fourth down in Dixie territory. The Cougars failed to reach the four yards needed to continue their drive.
“I probably should’ve kicked the field goal on that one, but you live and you learn on those and I trusted our defense to make the necessary stops,” Trosper said.
Just as Dixie began to march the ball down the field, Fields’ throw escaped the hands of his receiver Morris and landed into the chest of Conner’s Camryn Correll. Trosper made no mistake of electing for a field goal this time as Herron’s kick put the Cougars up 35-25 with six minutes left to play.
Dixie’s Armani Gregg was able to find the endzone on a quick Colonels drive to make it 35-32 with 4:30 to go, but Conner’s run game came up big once more with three first downs to close out the game.
Despite coming out on the wrong end of the scoreline, Dixie held Conner to just three second half points.
“Obviously we wanted to see ourselves in the win column tonight, but I like where we’re headed as far as adjustments go,” Burke said. “Conner’s a great team and I think we got better because of it.”
The Colonels fall to 2-5 on the year and 1-2 in district play, looking to bounce back against Scott on the road next week before facing two powerhouse programs in Cooper and Ryle. Next week’s game carries some big implications. A Colonels win and they secure a playoff berth. A loss and they’re on the outside looking in for one.
Friday night’s win served as a bounce back game for the Cougars after the loss to Cooper in the week prior. Conner will hope to continue their efficient offense as they gear up to take on Highlands next Friday. It’s another one in the Class 5A, 6th District that carries massive implications. The winner between the Cougars and Bluebirds will earn a home playoff game and the No. 2 seed in the district.
“Every week is a big week for us,” Trosper said. “You’ve gotta try to muster wins out while staying healthy and that’s what we’re trying to keep in mind.”
COUGARS 35, COLONELS 31
CONNER- 15-17-0-3 — 35
DIXIE HEIGHTS — 13-6-6-6 — 31
Scoring Plays
1st Quarter
(DH) Fields 62-yard pass to Golsby (10:07) Tucker Kick
(C) Hatfield 32-yard run (6:52) 2pt conversion
(C) Hatfield 42-yard run (3:45) Herron kick
(DH) Neal 7-yard run (2:46) 2pt attempt no good
2nd Quarter
(C) Hatfield 11-yard pass to Caplinger (8:56) Herron kick
(C) Hatfield 25-yard run (1:41) Herron kick
(DH) Fields 45-yard pass to Morris (0:58) 2pt attempt no good
(C) Herron 57-yard field goal (0:01)
3rd Quarter
(DH) Anderson 1-yard run (3:04) Tucker kick no good
4th Quarter
(C) Herron 35-yard field goal (6:05)
(DH) Gregg 8-yard run (4:30) Tucker kick blocked
Game Stats
Passing Yards: Conner 45 (Hatfield 8-15), Dixie Heights 237 (Fields 17-25)
Rushing Yards: Conner 301 (Hatfield 35-240, Abernathy 17-61), Dixie Heights 227 (Gregg 21-185, Anderson 7-34, Neal 2-8)
Receiving Yards: Conner 45 (Caplinger 5-32, Sparks 1-8, Abernathy 1-3, Bailey 1-2) Dixie Heights 237 (Anderson 9-85, Golsby 1-65, Morris 1-45, Gregg 2-21, Linville 2-14, Kriger 1-10)
First Downs: Conner 15, Dixie Heights 20
Turnovers: Conner 0, Dixie Heights 1
Penalties: Conner 7-58 Dixie Heights 3-45
Records: Conner (6-2, 2-1), Dixie Heights (2-5, 1-2)