Ballard scored on it’s opening drive, converting on several 3rd down opportunities and cashing in from two yards out on a carry by Jayden Farmer to make it 6-0 Bruins with 7:17 left in the opening quarter.
After a McCracken fumble, Farmer and the Bruins struck again, this time on a 25 yard run to make it 13-0 with just over five minutes left in the first.
The Mustangs would respond, albeit in a non-traditional way as Franklin Hayes recovered a fumble in the end zone to cut the lead to 13-6.
Late in the 2nd quarter, Elijah Wheat hit Franklin Hayes down the right sideline for a 34 yard score. However, Ballard would score just before the half as Elijah Downing grabbed a 62 yard reception for a score to make it 20-12 at the half.
Hunter Bradley would run it in from two yards early in the 4th to cut the Ballard lead to 27-18, but Ballard delivered the knockout punch minutes later as Farmer reached the end zone for the third time of the night on a 4 yard run.
For the fourth year in a row, Paducah Tilghman’s football season came to an end against Elizabethtown, this time the Panthers eliminated Tilghman 27-21 in the second round of the Class 3A playoffs..
Trailing 6-0 in the 2nd, Malachi Kirby was the recipient of a Cam Marshall 36-yard touchdown strike to give the Blue Tornado a 7-6 lead.
After a touchdown gave the Panthers a 12-7 lead, Makel Askew would punch it in from two yards out to put Tilghman back on top before halftime, 14-12.
Tilghman found some separation to
start the 2nd half as Askew found the end zone again, this time from
four yards out to make it 21-12. Unfortunately, the Panthers would
score the final 15 points of the game and advance to the regional
championship game next week.
Class 1A
Crittenden County 33, Bethlehem 27
Class 2A
Mayfield 55, McLean County 20
Murray 41, Owensboro Catholic 38
Class 3A
Elizabethtown 27, Paducah Tilghman 21
LaRue County 44, Caldwell County 41
Class 4A
Madisonville 20, Hopkinsville 0
Class 6A
Louisville Ballard 34, McCracken County 18
