Christian County is two losses away from finding itself on the wrong side of history. Following a 36-0 defeat at the hands of South Warren on Friday at Stadium of Champions, the Colonels dropped their 2019 home finale and fell for the ninth straight time to open the season.
Since its football program started in 1961, CCHS has only had a pair of winless seasons: 1969 (0-10) under Vic Waggoner and 1971 (0-10-1) under Charlie McGuire. No County squad has ever lost 11 games.
It’s not for lack of effort or difficult schedule, as the Cols ran into a top-10 team for the second week in a row Friday. The No. 6 Spartans, who had only given 114 points in eight games coming into Friday’s district affair, forced seven Christian County punts and earned their first shutout of the year.
Like they’ve done several times throughout this campaign, the Colonels forced a pair of first-half turnovers, but were never able to capitalize on a night that featured non-stop rain.
South Warren (8-1), which entered the contest with six players with at least 120 receiving yards, jumped ahead early when Chidi Afam used a 35-yard catch-and-run to give the Spartans a 7-0 lead less than three minutes into the game.
The touchdown was one of two through the air for sophomore quarterback Mason Willingham, who also ran for an 11-yard TD that forced a running clock with 2:04 left in the third quarter. Willingham finished the night with 103 passing yards, 45 rushing yards and a trio of scores to lead the way.
Jantzen Dunn also turned in a big performance for SWHS with four catches, 54 yards and a touchdown grab. On special teams, Dunn joined David Hudson with one of two Spartan blocked punts. Jake Burton (12 yards) and Luke Burton (15 yards) added rushing TDs in the victory.
Leading rusher Kobe Martin didn’t score, but did rack up 109 yards on the ground on 11 carries.
Christian County (0-9) celebrated Senior Night before the game, and even gave fourth-year player Brennan Metz Spears the start at quarterback. The pocket righty hung in against a stout Spartan defense for most of the half, but was picked off once and held in check.
L’Ray Coleman’s 26-yard run in the first half – which came on a third-and-25 conversion – was the Colonels’ longest play from scrimmage. Cam Coleman also had a few catches and a first-quarter interception of Willingham.
County will try to earn its first win of the year next Friday at McCracken County, which is coached by former Hopkinsville head coach Marc Clark. The Mustangs (6-3) had their six-game winning streak snapped with a 33-28 loss Friday at Henderson County.
— Chris Jung
SCORE BY QUARTER
SWHS (8-1) 7 14 15 0 – 36
CCHS (0-9) 0 0 0 0 – 0
SCORING PLAYS
SWHS: 1Q (9:43), Chidi Afam 35-yard catch from Mason Willingham (Eldar Dervisevic kick)
SWHS: 2Q (9:29), Jake Burton 12-yard run (Dervisevic kick)
SWHS: 2Q (2:03), Jantzen Dunn 11-yard catch from Willingham (Dervisevic kick)
SWHS: 3Q (6:28), Luke Burton 15-yard run (Willingham to Dalton Smith)
SWHS: 3Q (2:04), Willingham 11-yard run (Dervisevic kick)
