CYNTHIANA – Looks like Fleming County coach Bill Spencer will have to put the pressure washer to use once again.
The mud caked on players uniforms made it hard to see even numbers during the Panther game with Harrison County Friday night in Cynthiana.
But the Panthers braved the elements as they came away with a 16-7 victory over the Thorobreds.
“All you can do is have fun in a night like this. You can’t sit back and feel bad for yourself because of the weather, everybody is soaked to the bone and you just might as well enjoy it,” Panthers coach Bill Spencer said.
They did it with lockdown defense, Harrison ending with negative 15 yards of offense on the night in what was a slopfest in between the hashes.
The lone score the Panthers gave up was a 78-yard kickoff return by Amari Fulz, the rest: Harrison County only running 23 plays on the night as the Panthers didn’t allow much.
Meanwhile Fleming County was able to establish a little bit of a run game, getting 84 yards from Austin Trent on 22 carries and a touchdown, Zeke Conn hitting Logan Pinkley for a 10-yard touchdown for the Panthers other score, which was plenty in giving them a 16-7 third quarter lead.
They used a 16 play, over 11 minute drive from near the end of the third to the 1:33 mark of the fourth, that may not have resulted in points due to a fumble, but gave a sputtering Harrison County offense no room or time to work with down two possessions.
Ever since the Panthers came back from a COVID shutdown after four weeks into the season and a 1-4 record, prior to that they gave up 100 points in two games, since then they’ve given up 38 points in six games as they ride a six-game winning streak into the postseason.
“Our defense continues to play well. Gave up one score and it was on special teams, we don’t give that up it’s another shutout for our defense. Anytime you get a shutout with your defense, you’re going to be happy,” Spencer said. “Our defensive line has been lights out ever since we came back from our COVID shutdown. We haven’t given up over 100 yards rushing since then, so hats off to those guys.”
The streak has earned them two home playoff games in district action, looking for a third straight district title. Week 11 of the regular season is always a tough week, usually a game that bears zero meaning for the playoffs and one you want to escape injury free. The Panthers did just that as the momentum will continue into November.
“We want to win ballgames. Lot of times people talk about playing that last game of the season do you play your starters and this and that, if we’re going to play and keep score, we’re playing to win. We told our guys all week we’re playing to win,” Spencer said. “Lot different style of ballgame tonight, hopefully we don’t have another ballgame like this. A lot different style, but just proud of our guys can adapt. Proud they can adapt to however the elements are and win a ballgame.”
As far as who the opponent is next week is still to be determined. At press time Friday night, the final regular season RPI calculations were not complete, meaning the Panthers will play either Pendleton County, Powell County or Lewis County. Prior to Friday’s games, they were slated to face Powell, that could change overnight though based off the final results.
“All we know is we’re at home, we’re into the games that count now. Win or go home, we earned that right to be at home. We want to win a game and advance,” Spencer said.
It was the Kroger/KSR Game of the Week on Friday, both schools issued a $1,000 check and Fleming County awarded a championship style wrestling belt. That was about the only thing not covered in mud by the end of the night.
PANTHERS 16, THOROBREDS 7
FLEMING COUNTY – 8-0-8-0 — 16
HARRISON COUNTY – 7-0-0-0 — 7
Scoring
1st Quarter
(FC) Trent 9-yard run (:52) Conn pass to Denton
(HC) Fulz 78-yard kickoff return (:37) Anness kick
3rd Quarter
(FC) Conn 10-yard pass to Pinkley (4:15) Conn run
Game Stats
Passing Yards: Fleming 36 (Conn 4/6, Denton 0/1), Harrison 0 (Custard 0/1)
Rushing Yards: Fleming 78 (Trent 22-84, Johnson 1-8, Denton 4-(minus) 1, Conn 15-(minus) 2, Pinkley 1-(minus) 11), Harrison -15 (Tumey 1-5, Howard 1-4, Custard 13-(minus) 2, Mitchell 2-(minus) 4, Feeback 5-(minus) 18)
Receiving: Fleming (Pinkley 3-21, Denton 1-15), Harrison n/a
Turnovers: Fleming 1, Harrison 2
Penalties: Fleming 5-50, Harrison 7-65
Records: Fleming County 7-4, Harrison County 2-8
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