Quick start powers Paducah past Christian County

The host Paducah Tilghman Blue Tornado made short work of the Christian County Colonels 54-7 Friday night in a high school football game at McRight Stadium.

For Christian County, it puts an end to a disappointing regular season that saw them go through two coaches and finish with a 1-9 record.

Paducah (9-1), the defending Class 4-A state champion and No. 6-ranked team in the Bluegrasspreps.com Class 4-A football poll, wasted no time with the Colonels.

Chance McPike returned the opening kickoff 82 yards for a score with 11:48 to play. Ten seconds later, Javin Dukes fell on a fumble in the Colonels’ end zone for a 14-0 lead 22 seconds into the game.

The Tornado pushed the lead to 21-0 with 8:32 to go in the first quarter on a 42-yard interception return by Cam Wade. Wade then struck again when he returned a punt 76 yards for a score to make it 28-0 with 6:23 left in the first.

Quarterback Stone Crowe, who entered the game as the state’s top rated quarterback with 2,393 yards and 28 touchdowns, led the Blue Tornado on a six-play, 66-yard drive on their next possession. DJ Wilson scored on a 23-yard run and Paducah led 35-0 with 3:12 to go in the first.

Blair Sains scored on another 76-yard punt return with 9:20 to play in the half to push the Paducah lead to 42-0 after the sixth extra-point kick by Rex Gay.

With the running clock implemented, Christian County marched down field against the Blue Tornado defense. Quarterback Tom Johnson scored on a 6-yard run. Jayleigh Campbell scored the final point to make the score 42-7 as the first half horn sounded.

Both teams agreed to play 8-minute quarters in the second half. The Tornado went 50 yards in six plays as backup tailback Mason Copeland scored on an 11-yard run with 1:25 left in the third.

The final score came with 1:15 remaining in the game on a 3-yard run by Terry Greg.

Paducah ended the night with 185 total yards of offense compared to 139 for the Colonels.

The Colonels’ Paul Abren led all rushers with 77 yards on 11 carries.

Christian County ends its final regular season on a five-game losing streak. The Colonels will consolidate with Hopkinsville High School next fall.

The Colonels are scheduled to open the Class 6-A playoffs Nov. 7 at No. 2-ranked South Warren in Bowling Green.

Score by Quarters:

Christian Co. 0 7 0 0 – 7

Paducah Tilghman 35 7 6 6 - 54

Individual Scoring:

PT: Chance McPike, 82-yard kickoff return; Rex Gay, kick.

PT: Javin Dukes, fumble recovery; Gay, kick.

PT: Cam Wade, 42-yard interception return; Gay, kick.

PT: Wade, 76-yard punt return; Gay, kick.

PT: DJ Wilson, 23-yard run; Gay, kick.

PT: Blair Sains, 76-yard punt return; Gay, kick.

CC: Tom Johnson 6-yard run; Jayleigh Campbell, kick.

PT: Mason Copeland, 11-yard run; Conversion failed.

PT: Terry Gregg, 3-yard run; Conversion failed.

File Photo by Danny Vowell