Rebels fall in home opener

If Friday night’s home opener against Bourbon County High School had a reset button, the Owen County High School Rebels would have pushed it.
The start of the game was delayed momentarily to fix a clock issue and when the Rebels finally did kickoff to the Colonels it quickly went downhill.
Bourbon County’s explosive running back Kentayvous Hopkins made his presence felt on the second play of the game. Following a pass to open the game, the senior took the handoff and raced 43 yards for a touchdown. Following the extra point, the Colonels led 7-0 just seconds into the contest.
The Rebels’ first play of the game was not as successful. Owen County would fumble giving the ball right back to Bourbon County.
The Colonels would make the most of the opportunity when junior quarterback Dalton Pope raced up the middle and into the endzone from eight-yards away to extend the advantage to 14-0 with 8:57 to go in the first quarter.
On the ensuing kickoff, it looked like the Rebels had righted the ship when Collin Trammel went 96 yards for a score to cut the deficit in half at 14-7.
It was the Rebels’ second kickoff return for a touchdown this season. Paul Banks returned a kick 80-yards against Lloyd in the first game of the year.
The good feelings would not last when on the Colonels’ first play after the touchdown, Hopkins again found daylight. This time, he would race 63 yards for the score to push the lead back out to 21-7 with 8:26 to play in the first quarter.
Bourbon County was not done scoring in the first quarter. Following another Owen County turnover, the Colonels had first and goal. The visitors quickly capitalized when on the first play Pope connected with Charles Johnson for the score. After the PAT, the lead was 28-7.
The second quarter was not much better as Hopkins added his third touchdown of the evening on a 4-yard run to push the lead to 35-7.
The senior would finish the night with nine carries for 151 yards.
A Rebel miscue on a punt led to a safety later in the quarter to make it 37-7.
The Colonels would cap off the half with another short TD run by Pope making the halftime score 44-7.
Bourbon County would add one more score on their first play of the third quarter. Marquaez Hill scampered 63 yards for a score. The PAT was missed to make the score 50-7.
Owen County would make things respectable in the fourth quarter.
Paul Banks had a 38-yard touchdown run and Trammel added an 8-yard score and a 2-point conversion to make the final margin 50-21.
On defense, Mason Borchers would continue his solid play leading the Rebels with six tackles.
The Rebels will look to right the ship Friday night as they travel to Frankfort to take on Western Hills. While Owen County is 1-2 on the season, the Wolverines are looking to crack the win column for the first time this season. They are 0-3 after losing at home to Grant County High School Friday night.
Western Hills will be looking for revenge after the two teams played an exciting and very competitive game last season in Owenton. The Rebels came out on top in that one 32-26. Kickoff in Frankfort is schedule for 7:30 p.m.

Brian Blair

Collin Trammel makes a catch on Friday night.

Buy this photo

Buy this photo