Tigers take down the Wildcats 27-10
Team effort propels PG’s to victory over University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY – The Hargrave Military Academy football team defeated the University of Kentucky junior varsity, 27-10, Friday afternoon at Commonwealth Stadium.
Kentucky, who is a member of the Southeastern Conference, fielded a JV team for the first time since 2001. The Wildcats team, consisting primarily of scholarship players, took to the field for the first and only time this season and Hargrave proved that they were ready for the challenge.
Hargrave took command early as the Tigers drove 69 yards on their first possession, capped by a three-yard scoring run by running back Mike Ford. Quarterback Jarrett Dunston found receiver Vidal Hazelton twice on the drive for 45 yards to set up the Ford touchdown run.
On Kentucky’s first possession, Hargrave defensive end Justin Mincey sacked quarterback David Hamilton, forcing a fumble that Tiger linebacker Darrius Dewberry returned 35 yards for a touchdown. Midway through the first quarter, Hargrave led 14-0.
On the next drive Hargrave used a balanced attack to move down to the Wildcat 1-yard line. On the drive running back Keiland Williams broke a 43 yard run to help move the Tigers down the field. Dunston also found tight end TC Drake on a 16 yard route to give Hargrave another first down. Although the Tigers made it down to the 1-yard line, they were unable to come up with any points due to penalties and a crucial sack on third down.
The visitors stretched the lead to 20-0 in the second quarter when University of Kentucky signee, defensive back Corey Goodson intercepted a pass and returned it 49 yards to the Kentucky 40 yard line to help put the Tigers in scoring position. UK found out that the future is bright when they finally get Goodson onto campus.
Quarterback Jarrett Dunston took advantage by hitting wide receiver Joseph Nairn with a spectacular 28-yard scoring strike over two Wildcat defenders with just seven seconds before halftime.
With a bend, but don’t break attitude, the Hargrave defense was strong all day long. The PG defense finally surrendered the first points of the game with six minutes remaining in the third quarter when UK kicker J. J. Housley connected on a 27-yard field goal, completing a 16-play, 60-yard drive that took almost 9-minutes off of the clock.
The Hargrave defense once again came up with a big stop when the Wildcats could only muster another field goal opportunity which sailed wide left to keep the score 20-3 in the fourth quarter. Safety Zaire Kitchen, defensive linemen John Jerry, Justin Mincey, Callahan Bright, and Horace Hubbard, and linebackers Darius Dewberry and Mario Harvey made key stops throughout the drive.
Hargrave stretched the advantage to 27-3 with 8:50 remaining when Ford scored his second touchdown of the day on a 14-yard run. The Tigers marched the ball 46 yards in just 1:19 using two runs by Ford and two runs by Keiland Williams to extend the lead.
Although the game was in hand, Kentucky finally found the end zone with 4:40 minutes remaining when tailback Dominic Lewis took a pitch 57-yards before Merf Trout dragged him down out of bounds on the 1-yard line. On third down and goal, tailback Terrell Bankhead finished the drive with a one-yard TD scamper to cut the Hargrave lead to 27-10.
Running back Keiland Williams paced the Hargrave ground game with 82 yards on 11 carries. Ford rushed 10 times for 78 yards and two TDs. Dunston completed five of seven passes for 102 yards and one score.
Defensively, Hargrave safety Zaire Kitchen led all tacklers with 12 stops and he added a pass breakup. Goodson followed with seven tackles, plus the interception. Mincey had a pair of quarterback sacks, including the one that turned into a fumble return for a touchdown.
The Wildcat defensive effort was led by Senior defensive tackle Richard Gray, who amassed 10 stops, including one for loss. Redshirt Freshman linebacker Ben McGrath had six tackles, plus a fumble recovery. Sophomore linebacker Terry Clayton also had six tackles.
The Kentucky varsity has an open date on Sat. Oct. 1. The Wildcats return to action Oct. 8 at the University of South Carolina. Hargrave will take 11 days off before returning to action when they travel to Chapel Hill, NC to battle the University of North Carolina. The Tar Heels, members of the Atlantic Coast Conference, are 2-2 this season and will travel to Louisville to take on the Cardinals next Saturday. Game time is scheduled for 4 PM on Tuesday October 11th. The Tigers are 4-1 on the season.
This article was written with help from the University of Kentucky media services.
