Boyle Survives Title Town Shootout Over LCA 47-38

Just a week after Lexington Christian topped Bowling Green in a wild start to the 2023 season, the Eagles found themselves right back in the middle of another major heavyweight fight. Boyle County and LCA lit up the scoreboard, trading blow after blow in the Rebel Bowl in Danville Saturday. But this time around, the Rebels made a key late stop. A pair of Montavin Quisenberry touchdowns then gave the Rebels just enough to hold off the Eagles 47-38.

Danville transfer Demauriah Brown made an immediate impact for the Rebels. Brown picked off a tipped Cutter Boley pass to halt the Eagles opening drive, returning it into LCA territory. Then on third down quarterback Sage Dawson found Brown streaking down the sideline for a 45-yard touchdown, giving Boyle the early 7-0 lead.

But the Eagles struck right back. On the ensuing possession, Brady Hensley bounced a run to the outside, outrunning the Rebels secondary for a 52-yard touchdown, tying the game 7-7. The four-play, 80-yard drive eclipsed a mere 1:35 on the clock.

Then Brown and Boyle answered even faster. On the very next play, the junior wideout received a bouncing kickoff, picked up a block and hit the sideline, racing 86 yards for the score, giving the Rebels a 14-7 lead.

Brady Hensley rushed for 153 yards and a touchdown. (Trever white photo).

LCA would answer right back, as Boley found junior wideout Saxton Howard for three big receptions, driving the ball down to the Boyle County 5-yard line. After Mac Darland pounded his way down to the 3-yard line, Major Brown leaked out of the backfield for a touchdown reception from Boley, tying the game at 14-14.

On the ensuing kickoff, the Eagles swung for an even bigger blow. Isaac Collins perfectly executed an onside pooch kick, which bounced right into the hands of a streaking Major Brown. Then on a key third down, the Eagles dialed up their first trick play of the night. Hensley found Howard on a halfback pass, pushing the ball down to the Rebels 2-yard-line. But the Boyle County defense stiffened, with successive plays losing yardage for the Eagles. Will Howell then nailed a 24-yard field goal, giving LCA a 17-14 lead.

Penalties then made impacts, taking away big stops for both teams. After making a monster defensive stop on a key third down with Boyle driving, defensive tackle Kenyatta Hardge drew a questionable personal foul, keeping the Rebels drive alive. An Avery Bodner 16-yard run would later give Boyle another lead, 21-17.

On the ensuing LCA drive, a rouging the quarterback call on Boyle County wiped away a Quisenberry interception, and LCA would take advantage. Boley finished off an 11-play drive with a 1-yard plunge, giving the Eagles a 27-24 advantage they would take into halftime.

Junior wideout Saxton Howard had a big night for the Eagles. (Trever White photo)

LCA dominated many of the first half statistics, holding a 14-minute time of possession advantage, along with a remarkable 17 first downs to Boyle's three. But two turnovers, a special teams miscue, a big pass play and a critical personal foul call kept the Rebels in the game.

“I felt like we lost some opportunities in the first half," head coach Doug Charles told Lexington Herald-Leader. "We dominated the first half. We had 17 first downs to three and only led by three at halftime. We fought poor field position all third quarter, but our guys never quit.”

After a Parker Chaney interception halted Boyle County's first drive of the second half, the offense seemingly completely stalled. Three consecutive Eagle drives ended in punts from deep within their own territory. The Rebels would capitalize on two of them. Quisenbery and Bodner ran it from three and nine yards, the latter giving the Rebels the largest lead of the game, 34-24 with 1:08 remaining in the third quarter.

On the opening play of the fourth quarter, Howard continued his big night. He beat Demauriah Brown in coverage before Boley found him over the middle for a 59-yard touchdown strike, making it 34-31 Boyle County.

A big fourth down stop on the following drive gave LCA a major momentum swing. Hardge and a host of Eagles stuffed Quisenberry on 4th and 4, giving LCA the ball on their own 19-yard line with 5:22 to play.

Kenyatta Hardge made his LCA debut and a big impact. (Trever White photo)

And the Eagles went to work. Hensley carried off the right side for four yards. Boley found Will Rich on play-action to move the chains. Boley scrambled to find Chaney for another big gain, taking the ball down to the Rebels 34-yard-line. After a pair of incompletions, Hensley ran off left tackle for eight yards, bringing up a pivotal 4th and 2. Boley called his own number, a sneak off the right side, the 6'-5" quarterback knifing forward. When the chain crew finally came out for measurement, the spot came up mere inches short.

On the very next play, disaster struck for the Eagles. Quisenberry took a sweep off the right side, found a seam, and raced 75 yards for the score. After a missed extra point, the Rebels took a commanding 40-31 lead with 2:48 to play.

But the Eagles showed they had more fight to give. Boley found Chaney on an electrifying 66-yard touchdown pass, cutting the lead to 40-38 with 2:07 remaining.

A failed onside kick attempt gave the Rebels the ball on their own 43-yard line. One play later, a personal foul following a Quisenberry run walked the ball deep into LCA territory at the 15-yard line. Two plays later, Quisenberry punched it in from the 5-yard-line, sealing the win for the Rebels.

Helmet Stickers

Rebels Skill Players: Boyle County's athletes brought the show, as expected. Sage Dawson, Montavin Quisenberry, Demauriah Brown and Avery Bodner played both ways all night. The quartet combined for 536 all-purpose yards, seven touchdowns, 31.5 tackles and three interceptions.

Saxton Howard: Boyle County's defense didn't have an answer for Howard most of the night, especially on deep routes against man coverage. He torched the Rebels with seven catches for 218 yards and a touchdown. Add in his return yards, and Howard racked up 307 all-purpose yards on the night.

Parker Chaney: Yet another big night receiving for Chaney, with 10 catches for 153 yards and a touchdown. On defense, the senior recorded 3 solo tackles and an interception.

Will Howell - The junior kicker went 5-5 on PATs and nailed a 24-yard field goal to give the Eagles a 17-14 lead.

Kenyatta Hardge - Big #11 made a big impact in his LCA debut, credited with one solo, three assists and one tackle for loss. He likely forced a fumble on a key 3rd quarter drive as well. More importantly, Hardge drew double teams, lived in the backfield and was a force all night.

Cutter Boley - While he won't be happy with the three picks (one at the end of each half), Boley was still sensational. The senior went 23-41 for 406 yards and three touchdowns. He's clearly in the hunt for Mr. Football.

Film Room Notes

You certainly want to win them all, but there's not much shame in earning a split against the likes of Bowling Green and Boyle to start the season. The Eagles offense has put up a staggering 1,425 yards and 94 points against the top-ranked teams in 4A and 5A.

Two areas of concern last year: running the football and stopping the run. So far this season, LCA is dramatically better at both. Week one was a dominant performance in both areas. Boyle County's physicality caused some problems in the second half this week. Pikeville will look to do the same in week three.

Fluke plays - LCA has given up two kickoff returns for touchdowns in two games. A pick-six and fumble scoop-and-score also went against the Eagles. Sprinkle in a few costly penalties, tipped balls, etc., that have also hurt in crucial situations. If the Eagles clean up special teams and limit timely mistakes, they become even more formidable.

LCA Stat Leaders

Passing	C-A-I	Yards	Touchdowns	Long
Cutter Boley	23-41-3	406	3	66
Brady Hensley	1-1-0	33	0	33

Rushing	Carries	Yards	TD	Long	Avg
Brady Hensley	25	153	1	52	6.1
Cutter Boley	7	31	1	11	4.4
Mac Darland	2	7	0	5	3.5

Receiving	No.	Yards	TD	Long
Parker Chaney	10	153	1	66
Saxton Howard	7	218	1	59
Anderson Mitchell	1	12	0	12
Nate Barnhardt	1	12	0	12
Will Rich	1	11	0	11
Tyler King	1	11	0	11
Brady Hensley	1	6	0	6
Major Brown	1	3	1	3
Totals	24	439	3	66

Tackles	Solo	Assit	Total
Mac Darland	3	2	4
Will Bivens	2	4	4
Major Brown	2	4	4
Parker Chaney	3	1	3.5
Chase Couch	2	1	2.5
Kenyatta Hardge	1	3	2.5
Jackson Dillow	2	0	2
Jayden Taylor	1	2	2
Trefor Thomas	1	2	2
Anderson Mitchel	1	1	1.5
BJ Evans	1	1	1.5
Chase Fuller	1	0	1
Braylon Moss	1	0	1

LCA takes the field again for the home opener Saturday, Sept. 2 against Pikeville in the inaugural eCampus.com Bowl. Kickoff is scheduled for 8 PM, following Bryan Station versus Bowling Green.