WILLIAMSBURG — Matt Rhymer’s Whitley County Colonels lost a district heartbreaker on Friday that will keep them from hosting a Class 4A playoff game.
The Colonels battled back and forth with Letcher Central but in the end, the Cougars made enough big plays to pull off a 35-31 win.
The loss sends Whitley County’s record to 5-4 overall, and 1-2 against district opponents.
The Colonels held a 31-28 advantage with 3:24 left in the game after Trace Miller connected with a 28-yard field goal.
Letcher Central answered two minutes later with a 14-yard touchdown run to secure the four-point win.
Whitley County will finish regular season play at home Friday with a 7:30 p.m. matchup with Madison Southern.
“Hats off to Letcher County they were the most physical and most disciplined team tonight,” Rhymer said. “I take responsibility for that and we will go back to work to improve in those areas. We have come a long way and I’m thankful for the effort our seniors have given to lead the team. We have games left and we will work to get better and finish strong.”
Letcher Central took an early 6-0 lead after reaching paydirt on a four-yard run with 3:41 left in the first quarter.
Whitley County answered with a scoring drive of its own as Dee Parker capped off the Colonels’ scoring drive with a six-yard run, giving his team a 7-6 edge with 52 seconds remaining in the first quarter.
Whitley County got on the scoreboard again with 8:11 remaining in the second quarter as Ethan Allen found John Croley open for an eight-yard touchdown connection to push the Colonels’ lead to 14-6.
The Cougars continued to battle, though.
Letcher Central cut its deficit to 14–12 after scoring on a six-yard pass play with 3:03 to go in the second quarter.
Allen’s second touchdown pass of the game, a 16-yarder to Tye Hamblin gave the Colonels a 21-12 advantage with 7:25 left in the third quarter, but Letcher Central answered quickly, connecting with a 48-yard touchdown pass to cut its deficit to 21-20 with 5:53 left in the third quarter.
Hamblin managed to put his team ahead 28-20 with 25 seconds remaining in the third quarter after scoring on a five-yard run but the Cougars answered by returning the ensuing kickoff back 80 yards for a touchdown while adding the two-point conversion.
The two teams entered the fourth quarter tied at 28 apiece.
The Colonels reclaimed the lead with 3:24 left in regulation as kicker Trace Miller came through with a clutch 28-yard field goal to give his team a three-point lead at 31-28.
Letcher Central followed with a clutch drive that was capped off with a 14-yard run as the Cougars held a slim 35-31 advantage with only 1:25 remaining in the fourth quarter.
