By Terry Boehmker
NKyTribune sports reporter
Walton-Verona football teams have lost in the second round of the Class 2A playoffs the last four years. The Bearcats want to break that streak Friday, but they’ll have to beat defending state champion Christian Academy of Louisville to do it.
“It’s big boy week,” said Walton-Verona coach Jeff Barth. “This is one of those kinds of match-ups where, we feel we’ve built a nice program here, but this is one of the games we need to win to progress to new heights.”
Both teams have a 9-2 record after posting easy wins in the first round of the playoffs last week. Christian Academy has a slightly higher power rating, but the Bearcats have home field advantage and a burning desire to break their four-year losing streak in second round games.
“Everybody’s dead set that this is the team to do it,” Barth said. “I think mentality-wise our guys are ready for a scrap. Obviously, they’re a very good football team and we’ve got a great deal of respect … but we feel like we’re ready for them.”
The Bearcats have a 480-96 scoring advantage in 11 games this season. Seven of their nine victories have been shutouts and they allowed just one touchdown in another game. The defensive unit is giving up less than 130 yards per game.
Colton Catlett is a four-year starter on the Walton-Verona defensive line. The leading tacklers are linebackers Grant Grubbs and Mason Smith and defensive end Kameron Pardee.
“Mason Smith is a Division I athlete in wrestling and he shows it on the football field as well,” Barth said of the West Point wrestling recruit. “And Grant Grubbs, I can’t say enough about him. He’s a 175-pounder who flies around and makes tackles left and right.”
On offense, Grubbs plays guard and Smith is a running back. They’re part of a unit that’s averaging 300 rushing yards per game with senior Garet Talbot and junior Micah Alford getting most of the carries.
“We obviously have to take care of the football and move the chains (in Friday’s game),” Barth said. “We may not be hitting a bunch of 60-yard runs on them, but if we can pick up 10 or 11 yards every three plays or so that may be the recipe that we’re looking for – kind of pound, pound and then pop one.”
Christian Academy’s defense has allowed nine points or less in eight games this season while the offense is averaging 33 points and 275 yards per game.
The Centurions’ two losses this season came when junior quarterback Austin Carr was sidelined by an injury. He returned to the lineup three weeks ago and passed for 288 yards and four touchdowns in three wins.
With Carr providing a legitimate passing threat, it opens up an opponent’s defense and makes it easier for his team to run the ball. Christian Academy has rushed for 522 yards and nine touchdowns the last three weeks.
“We still have a very good defense that we feel could keep them out of the end zone, but we’re going to have to score some points to win,” coach Barth said. “We can’t tell ourselves we’re going to shut out the defending state champs.”