Tigers lock up home playoff game with recent win

By Brandon Mattingly

Bardstown improved to 7-1 and locked up a two seed and a home playoff game in the first round of the playoffs with a 38-31 win over DeSales (4-5) at Southern High School Friday night.

The Colts outgained the Tigers with 371 yards of offense compared to 311 for the Tigers, but it was Bardstown who was able to come out on top with a big second half. Both teams had success running the ball, with DeSales compiling 260 rushing yards and Bardstown adding 190 yards on the ground.

DeSales struck first with a 10-yard touchdown run by Cory Lafever in the first quarter for a 7-0 lead. Jack Whitfield responded for the Tigers in the second quarter with a 7-yard touchdown of his own. The two-point conversion failed and the Colts kept a one point lead.

The Colts later added to their lead with an 11-yard touchdown run from Adam Byrd.

Colts quarterback Jared Nauert – 14/27 passing for 111 yards – then pushed the lead to 15 after connecting with tight end James Jarvis for an 8-yard score. Whitfield punched in his second touchdown run of the quarter from two yards out and Deion Tongue pounded in the two-point conversion to cut the lead to seven nearing halftime.

Casey Axeman added a 25-yard field goal before the half to give the Colts a 24-14 lead at intermission.

Bardstown got it going in the third quarter on a 3-yard run by Donshais Calbert. Jordan Brewer ran in another two-point conversion and the Tigers pulled back within two points at 24-22.

Bardstown finally took its first lead in the fourth quarter when Brewer – 8/12 passing for 121 yards –  found Anthony Myrks from five yards out for his lone passing touchdown of the game. The Brewer two-point conversion run was good.

 Later, Brewer gave his team some breathing room with a 64-yard dash for the endzone and the Tigers pushed the score to 38-24 following a C.J. Jackson two-point conversion.

Lafever added a late 2-yard touchdown for the Colts, but the Tigers were able to hold on 38-31 and lock up a home playoff game against Metcalfe County (1-8).

Bardstown now prepares for a tough season finale this Friday at home against the 8-1 North Oldham Mustangs.

Bardstown 38, DeSales 31

D 7  17 0  7 —   31

B 0  14 8 16 — 38

First quarter — (D) Lafever 10 run (Manning kick)   Second quarter — (B) Whitfield 7 run (run failed); (D) Byrd 11 run (Manning kick); (D) Jarvis 8 pass from Nauert (Manning kick); (B) Whitfield 2 run (Tongue run); (D) Axeman 25 field  Third quarter — (B) Calbert 3 run (Brewer run); Fourth quarter —- (B) Myrks 5 pass from Brewer (Brewer run) (B) Brewer 64 run (Jackson run); (D) Lafever 2 run (Manning kick)