By DONN ADAMSON
Daily Journal Sports Editor

Published: Monday, November 23, 2009
Updated: Friday, October 30, 2009 3:48 PM CDT

PARK HILLS — In a game that saw only 10 plays between the two teams go for 10 or more yards, the Potosi Trojans and the Central Rebels fought out their regular season finale in the trenches. The District and Conference titles were on the line, and the Trojans were also defending their No. 2 state ranking and undefeated season, which they were successful in doing with a late 20-6 win.

For over one half of play, the defense for both teams kept things in check. Potosi (10-0) had a total of 62 yards in the first half and Central had a mere 55.

Potosi’s Tanner Glore took the ball 40 yards on the opening kickoff down to Central’s 21, but four plays later they had only advanced the ball a total of three yards, and Central took over on downs.

 The two defenses were so stifling that both teams only made one first down in the first quarter.

On their first possession of the second quarter, the Trojans ran two first downs plays, but they were thwarted by a fumble that Central’s Jaron Bridges fell on for the Rebels. Potosi was able to make two first downs on their next possession, but they were unable to advance the football out of their own end of the field.

Central also made two first downs on their last possession of the half, but they could only reach their own 35 before the horn sounded for the half.

Central’s defense keyed on Potosi’s go-to guy Brandon Bourbon in the first half, and the Trojans found relief in the person of Dylan Wyrick. Starting on their 34 after stopping Central on downs to start the second half, the Trojans took only 10 plays to claim the game’s first points. Wyrick carried the ball five times on the drive for 54 yards with his longest a 39 yarder.

Wyrick rescued the drive on a fourth and two at the four-yard line. A bad snap resulted in a loose ball in Potosi’s’ backfield, but an alert Wyrick scooped up the ball and was able to fight through for the measured first down.

Two plays later quarterback Matt Marler bounced off the line and took it in with 8:42 still left in the quarter. Potosi’s two-point try was stuffed by Central’s defense.

Potosi’s defense forced their fourth turn-over on downs, and put together their second and last scoring drive which started in the third quarter, but finished in the fourth.

Potosi nearly received a gift prior to their getting the ball. Glore took the punt and ran the  ball back 84 yards for a supposed score, but a yellow flag brought the ball back.

Bourbon picked up his longest run to start the drive with a 15-yard run. Bourbon, averaging well over 200 yards in Potosi’s first nine games, was held to only 61 yards on 20 carries  by the Rebels defense in the game.

A 44-yard run by Wyrick set up the score. Marler bootlegged a run to the two, and Bourbon punched it in for the six from the one-yard line. The two-point try failed and Potosi led by only 12-0.

Central (7-3) cut the lead in half with their only sustained drive of the game. Starting from their own 31, the Rebels utilized 14 plays of concentrated ball handling. The highlight of the drive came on a halfback pass by Matt Ketterer to Tanner Skaggs for 22 yards, the longest play from scrimmage for either team in the game.

Tyler Friend ran for six plays and 30 yards of the drive. Friend found yardage hard to gain as he carried the ball 22 times in the game for a total of 85 yards.

With a fourth-and-goal at the three, Central coach Kory Schweiss called time to set up the play, and the Rebels worked it to a tee as Ketterer ran the ball in on a slant play inside tackle. The touchdown cut Potosi’s lead in half with 2:45 left on the clock.

What Central fans feared came true on the following kickoff as a squib kick made its way to the 16-yard line and into the hands of Bourbon. Bourbon broke three tackles and was off to the races for the 84 yard touchdown. He also ran in the two-pointer for the final score.

Potosi had a total of 238 yards of offense with Marler 4-7 in passing for 34 yards. Glore caught two passes for 24 yards. Wyrick led all runners with nine carries for 125 yards.

The Trojans will host Dexter in the Regional game on Wednesday.

Potosi  0  0  6  14 - 20

Central  0  0  0  6 - 6

First Quarter:

No score

Second Quarter:

No Score

Third Quarter:

P (6-0) Marler 2 yd run (2-point failed), 3:12

Fourth Quarter:

P (12-0) Bourbon 1 yd run (2-point failed), 8:20

C (12-6) Ketterer 3 yd run (2 point failed), 2:50

P (20-6) Bourbon 74 yd kick-off return (Bourbon run), 2:39