LCA Offense Too Much for Lexington Catholic, Eagles Win Holy War 49-42

Another week, and the Eagles found themselves in yet another electric atmosphere. The 2023 edition of the annual "Holy War" against Lexington Catholic – what has arguably become Lexington's most intense rivalry – brought a packed house, including University of Kentucky Head Coach Mark Stoops and Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen. The Eagles and Knights responded by putting on a show of offensive explosiveness.

Kentucky Head Coach Mark Stoops and Offensive Coordinator Liam Coen. (Trever White photo)

The two teams combined for more than 1,000 total yards and 91 points, with each offense earning a staggering 26 first downs apiece. In a game that saw numerous seismic shifts in momentum, it was the Eagles defense coming up with a pivotal 4th quarter goal line stand before Cutter Boley and the offense slammed the door for good.

It looked like that door might just fly wide open for the Knights after a goal line stand of their own to start the 4th quarter. Lexington Catholic took over on its own 3-yard-line after a penalty helped stall the Eagles drive. Then Lexington Catholic quarterback Jackson Wasik proceeded to hit a big pass over the middle to Matthew Kern, deep into Eagles territory.

But with 11 minutes remaining, LCA leading 42-35, and Lexington Catholic with a 1st and goal from the LCA 8-yard-line, the Eagles defense finally made their stand. Good coverage by Anderson Mitchell forced an incompletion in the corner of the end zone on first down. Then junior linebacker Hunter Adams blew up a toss sweep to Joaquin Pereira for a 2-yard loss. On third down, Parker Chaney saved a touchdown, rallying to knock Grant Gambrell out of bounds at the 3-yard-line. Then on 4th down, Cooper Gudalis and Chase Couch made the biggest defensive play of the night.

Linebacker Hunter Adams dropped a Knights runner for a 2-yard loss. (Becky Jones photo)

Gudalis took on a block, filling the hole at the point of attack, stopping the initial surge. Then Couch fought through a double-team, stopping Wasik on a keeper, dead in his tracks. Jayden Taylor and Kenyatta Hardge rallied, ensuring the pile moved backwards, as the Eagles came up with a huge stop inside the 1-yard-line.

Then Boley and company went to work. The senior quarterback engineered a 12-play, 99-yard drive for the ages, eating up 6:31 on the clock. Boley found Nate Barnhardt on three key receptions, while sophomore running back BJ Evans popped two runs for 16 yards to move the chains. But it was senior running back Brady Hensley who carried the load, carrying the ball seven times, including a five-yard plunge for his fifth touchdown of the night, giving the Eagles a commanding 49-35 lead.

“(We) get back ahead by two scores,” LCA Head Coach Doug Charles told the Lexington Herald Leader. “Which, as you can see, both offenses could figure out how to score, so that was really important. That was a 14-point swing at a critical time.”

The Knights would refuse to go down without a fight, however. On the ensuing drive, Wasik would rally once more. On 2rd and 6 from their own 44-yard-line, Wasik threw a desperation heave into double coverage. The Knights' Kaylib Nelson hauled in the 41-yard catch, followed by two more receptions, the latter a 5-yard touchdown the keep the Knights alive. The PAT closed the score to 49-42.

For Eagles fans, the game suddenly took on a familiar scene. A week prior, Christian Academy-Louisville executed a late onside kick before the Eagles held on in a 14-12 thriller. But this time around, the Eagles "Hands Team" executed perfectly, with Hensley recovering at the Knights 49-yard-line.

UK commit Cutter Boley engineered a 99-yard scoring drive to seal the win. (Becky Jones photo)

The offense would have to get it done one more time. With 2:38 remaining, the Eagles needed one more first down to ice the Knights. After two Hensley runs and and a quick screen to Saxton Howard, LCA faced a 4th and 3 from the Knights' 42-yard-line. Boley gave it to Hensley off the right side, rumbling down the 35-yard-line, picking up the first down to seal the win.

It was a fitting end, leaning on the big offensive line one more time in a game they dominated throughout. The Eagles rushed for 285 yards and seven touchdowns–five by Hensley and two from Boley.

“Our O-Line gets after it up front; they’re nasty, and I love them," Hensley told KSR. "I feel like I can do it all, but I can’t do anything without the o-line; all credit goes to them.”

The LCA offensive line dominated Catholic in the run game. (Becky Jones photo)

When Hensley wasn't pounding the ball, Boley had a solid night throwing it. After two incompletions on the first drive to start the game, Boley finished an impressive 18-23 for 224 yards and no interceptions.

After falling behind 7-0, Boley would lead the Eagles on four consecutive drives for touchdowns in the first half. In the second half, the Eagles scored on three out of four possessions, extending the lead to 14 multiple times.

Conversely, the Eagles secured three consecutive stops in the first half after going down 14-7 late in the 1st quarter. The Eagles forced a pair of fumbles, first by Kenyatta Hardge on defense, followed by Will Bivens on a kickoff. The Eagles defense would get another stop, forcing a punt late in the 2nd quarter.

On a night when defensive stops came at a premium against these two high-powered offenses, LCA's unit did more. The Black Shirts forced a fumble and blocked a punt, getting off the field four times without a score. Then the defense came up big one last time, the final goal line stand before taking a late 14-point lead. That would be all the cushion Boley's offense would need.

Helmet Stickers

Offensive Line - Garrison McKinney, Brooks Kerwin, Hayes Preston, Jake Darby, and Trefor Thomas - this has to be the best unit in the state of Kentucky. Through five games, the Eagles have pounded the football, making huge holes, primarily for Hensley.

Brady Hensley - He was a dude, once again. The EKU commit carried the rock 39 times for 248 yards and five touchdowns. Every single time we needed a yard, he seemingly lowered the shoulder and got it, running around, over and through Lexington Catholic defenders all night long.

Cutter Boley - You can't be much more efficient than 18-23 for 224 yards. Boley also ran for two scores, with a third touchdown wiped out by penalty. More importantly, Boley led the Eagles to victory. He commanded the huddle, stayed poised, and made every throw LCA needed. His scramble, throwing off two Knight defenders before hitting Tyler King on the run for 38 yards is one for the highlight reel.

Parker Chaney - The senior wideout hauled in four receptions for 57 yards. Chaney also made several big effort plays that don't necessarily make the stat sheet. He threw multiple key blocks on quick screens to Barnhardt and Howard, springing gains to move the chains. He also made touchdown-saving tackles twice on the key 4th quarter drive leading to the goal line stand.

Nate Barnhardt - The senior wideout came up big, especially on the game's most important drive, where he hauled in three receptions. Barnhardt brought in six receptions for 47 yards on the night, to go along with a fumble recovery.

Saxton Howard - Big in the passing game all night, Howard caught 6 balls for 77 yards, including a spectacular 37-yard reception. The junior added 40 return yards as well.

Kenyatta Hardge - The secret is out. Opposing offenses clearly game plan for Kenyatta now, running away from or doubling the senior on most every play. Hardge still managed five solos and a tackle for loss. His forced fumble and blocked punt led directly to 14 LCA points.

Photos by Trever White and Becky Jones