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By Brett Bibbins
NKyTribune contributor
On a night when the temperature dropped into the 40s, rain poured down from start to finish, and less than five passes were completed, Walton-Verona’s multi-faceted running game and stingy defense took down Owen County, 27-6, in a Class 2A district game on Friday.
The win gives Walton-Verona the inside track in the five-team district race with a 2-0 record. The Bearcats could clinch first place with a win in next week’s district game at Gallatin County.
“Your goal coming into the year is to win the district championship and be able to host in the playoffs,” said Bearcats’ coach Jeff Barth. “We had a couple of rough ones early this year, but to win these past two (district) games was very important for us.”
The Bearcats started this season 0-4. Having only lost a total of five games in the past two seasons combined, they found themselves in uncharted waters. But the team found its winning ways again by squeezing out a one-point victory in week five and shutting out Carroll County in a district game last Friday.
In the matchup with Owen County, the non-stop rain made it an almost exclusive ground-and-pound night for both run-oriented offenses. Fortunately for Walton-Verona, the rushing game was working early, putting up 20 first half points, all on the ground.
Senior Halsey Page put the Bearcats on the board early in the first quarter with a 4-yard run into the end zone, capping off a quick drive to start the game.
The second quarter was more of the same for Walton-Verona, finding the end zone on the ground two more times, first on an 11-yard run from senior Noah Richardson and then junior Scott Pettyjohn broke through the line for a 39-yard score.
“Our offensive line struggled at the beginning of the season and it was hard for us to run,” Richardson said. “So we looked to pass some (Friday), but it just wasn’t going to work. But when everything in the running game flows like that our offense can be pretty effective.”
The dual-threat rushing attack of Page and Richardson combined for 239 yards on 38 carries and three touchdowns.
On the opposite side of the ball, the Walton-Verona defense did not give up a first down until midway through the third quarter.
“Our defense pitched a shutout last week,” coach Barth said. “This week, we did the same until they hit us with that one big play in the third quarter. Our defense is our best unit this year and we expect big games out of them. They had another big game (Friday).”
With the way their team has been playing the last three weeks, the Bearcat coaching staff and players are setting their sights on finishing the season strong and taking that momentum into the playoffs.
“After starting the season rough, it was hard for us,” Richardson said. “But we had to pick ourselves up and the seniors had to step up. We want to go in and be back-to-back district champs and hope to make a run into the playoffs.”
OWEN COUNTY 0 0 6 0 — 6
WALTON VERONA 13 7 0 7 — 27
WV — Page 4 run (kick failed)
WV — Richardson 11 run (Moran kick)
WV — Pettyjohn 39 run (Moran kick)
OC — Riggs 2 run (pass failed)
WV — Page 3 run (Moran kick)
RECORDS: Owen County 2-4, Walton-Verona 3-4