MIKE MARSEE

Contributing writer

This is one win Boyle County players and coaches will remember.

When the final chapter of the 2022 season is written, the Rebels’ victory over Henderson County may not be their most impressive win of the season, but it will be one of the most important.

If Boyle has a successful season, its 31-17 victory Friday night at Rebel Stadium will be valued for the way the Rebels fought through challenges on several fronts to defeat a quality opponent.

Coach Justin Haddix said it’s a win that will do the Rebels a world of good when they face tough tests in the postseason.

“No doubt about it. This is a really good football team. We didn’t execute a lot, but some of that (was a) credit to them,” Haddix said. “I was most proud of when they had the momentum and we got punched in the mouth, we continued to play.”

Henderson, an experienced team from Kentucky’s largest football class, scored twice in the last 2:07 of the third quarter to tie the game at 17-all before Boyle battled back to score two touchdowns in the final 7:06 for its second win over a Class 6A school in three weeks.

“It shows that if we play all 48 minutes we can win, even when a team’s got the same skill level as us,” Boyle wide receiver-defensive back Montavin Quisenberry said.

The fourth-quarter touchdowns, like every touchdown Boyle (4-0) scored Friday, came on passes from Sage Dawson to Quisenberry.

The junior quarterback and the sophomore receiver connected on four scoring plays totaling 76 yards. Dawson also rushed for 100 yards, and Quisenberry had a fourth-quarter interception that led to the clinching score.

Boyle, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Bluegrasspreps.com, had nine mercy rule wins last season and got the running clock in two of its first three games this season, but this game was something else.

“It’s easy to play those teams that aren’t that good, but when we’re playing a team like this we get to see where we’re actually at,” Boyle defensive lineman Tommy Ziesmer said.

Henderson, ranked No. 9 in 6A, had a formidable defensive line that made things tough for a Boyle offensive line that is still missing some key players, but the Colonels had an even harder time moving the ball in the first half thanks to the work of Boyle’s defensive front.

Both teams got more offense going as the game wore on, and they were on even terms after Henderson stopped the Rebels on fourth down at their own 31, then scored on its next play.

Boyle answered with its longest scoring drive of the season (by plays), an 11-play, 58-yard march that included a fourth-down conversion at midfield and concluded when Dawson fired a strike to Quisenbery on the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the 4.

“That was the one that we needed,” Quisenberry said. “I had to sell my route inside good and get back out, and (the defender) bit on it so we got the touchdown.”

Henderson netted only 4 yards on its next two series before Quisenberry intercepted quarterback Trajdon Davis at the Colonels’ 34-yard line with 3:11 to play.

“I read the quarterback’s eyes and saw the tight end going deep, and I stepped over and intercepted it,” Quisenberry said.

It was the third pick of the season for Quisenberry, and it was followed one minute later by his fourth touchdown of the night when Dawson hit him in stride for a 36-yard score.

It marked the first time Quisenberry has scored four touchdowns in a game, according to statistics submitted to the KHSAA, and the first time Dawson has thrown four TD passes.

Dawson had the highest rushing total of the game and of his career — he got half of his yards on a 50-yard gain in the third quarter that set up Cole Andrews’ first career field goal — and he completed 14 of 26 passes for 145 yards.

Henderson (2-1) had little success running the ball after rushing for 748 yards in its first two games. The Colonels had minus-5 rushing yards at halftime — eight of their 18 plays in the first half went for losses — and finished with 69.

“Our D-line’s pretty good, too,” Haddix said. “We have confidence in our defense. We punted to them … when we were up by a touchdown (in the fourth quarter), so we’ve obviously got faith in our defense.”

Meanwhile, the Colonels completed only three passes for 49 yards.

“There was so much pressure on the quarterback to where he was hurrying his throws,” Ziesmer said.

Ziesmer led the Rebels with seven tackles, six of which were for losses. Cole Sims and Jayce Crowe had five stops each, and Quisenberry and Brock Driver each had three tackles for losses. Sims also recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass.

Henderson (2-1) took the field with confidence that only grew when the Colonels forced a three-and-out on Boyle’s first series and Jaheim Williams returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown.

Boyle was blanked in the first quarter but cashed in on Sims’ fumble recovery at the Henderson 31-yard line to take a 7-6 lead less than two minutes into the second period.

Boyle doubled its score in the final minute of the first half, then took a 17-6 lead in the third quarter on Andrews’ 30-yard field goal before the Colonels rallied and the Rebels’ resolve was tested.

“We continued to fight, and that just (speaks to) how much our guys work and what they do,” Haddix said.

Scoring summary

HC 6 0 11 0 — 17

BC 0 14 3 14 — 31

First Quarter

Henderson — Jaheim Williams 51 punt return (kick failed), 9:58.

Second Quarter

Boyle — Montavin Quisenberry 18 pass from Sage Dawson (Cole Andrews kick), 10:02.

Boyle — Quisenberry 18 pass from Dawson (Andrews kick), :59.

Third Quarter

Boyle — FG Andrews 30, 5:46.

Henderson — FG Xavier Cruse 36, 2:07.

Henderson — Jackson Pendergraft 31 pass from Trajdon Davis (Jordan Wright run), :24.

Fourth Quarter

Boyle — Quisenberry 4 pass from Dawson (Andrews kick), 7:06.

Boyle — Quisenberry 36 pass from Dawson (Andrews kick), 2:11.

MIKE MARSEE

Contributing writer

T

his is one win Boyle County players and coaches will remember.

When the final chapter of the 2022 season is written, the Rebels’ victory over Henderson County may not be their most impressive win of the season, but it will be one of the most important.

If Boyle has a successful season, its 31-17 victory Friday night at Rebel Stadium will be valued for the way the Rebels fought through challenges on several fronts to defeat a quality opponent.

Coach Justin Haddix said it’s a win that will do the Rebels a world of good when they face tough tests in the postseason.

“No doubt about it. This is a really good football team. We didn’t execute a lot, but some of that (was a) credit to them,” Haddix said. “I was most proud of when they had the momentum and we got punched in the mouth, we continued to play.”

Henderson, an experienced team from Kentucky’s largest football class, scored twice in the last 2:07 of the third quarter to tie the game at 17-all before Boyle battled back to score two touchdowns in the final 7:06 for its second win over a Class 6A school in three weeks.

“It shows that if we play all 48 minutes we can win, even when a team’s got the same skill level as us,” Boyle wide receiver-defensive back Montavin Quisenberry said.

The fourth-quarter touchdowns, like every touchdown Boyle (4-0) scored Friday, came on passes from Sage Dawson to Quisenberry.

The junior quarterback and the sophomore receiver connected on four scoring plays totaling 76 yards. Dawson also rushed for 100 yards, and Quisenberry had a fourth-quarter interception that led to the clinching score.

Boyle, ranked No. 1 in Class 4A by Bluegrasspreps.com, had nine mercy rule wins last season and got the running clock in two of its first three games this season, but this game was something else.

“It’s easy to play those teams that aren’t that good, but when we’re playing a team like this we get to see where we’re actually at,” Boyle defensive lineman Tommy Ziesmer said.

Henderson, ranked No. 9 in 6A, had a formidable defensive line that made things tough for a Boyle offensive line that is still missing some key players, but the Colonels had an even harder time moving the ball in the first half thanks to the work of Boyle’s defensive front.

Both teams got more offense going as the game wore on, and they were on even terms after Henderson stopped the Rebels on fourth down at their own 31, then scored on its next play.

Boyle answered with its longest scoring drive of the season (by plays), an 11-play, 58-yard march that included a fourth-down conversion at midfield and concluded when Dawson fired a strike to Quisenbery on the goal line on fourth-and-goal from the 4.

“That was the one that we needed,” Quisenberry said. “I had to sell my route inside good and get back out, and (the defender) bit on it so we got the touchdown.”

Henderson netted only 4 yards on its next two series before Quisenberry intercepted quarterback Trajdon Davis at the Colonels’ 34-yard line with 3:11 to play.

“I read the quarterback’s eyes and saw the tight end going deep, and I stepped over and intercepted it,” Quisenberry said.

It was the third pick of the season for Quisenberry, and it was followed one minute later by his fourth touchdown of the night when Dawson hit him in stride for a 36-yard score.

It marked the first time Quisenberry has scored four touchdowns in a game, according to statistics submitted to the KHSAA, and the first time Dawson has thrown four TD passes.

Dawson had the highest rushing total of the game and of his career — he got half of his yards on a 50-yard gain in the third quarter that set up Cole Andrews’ first career field goal — and he completed 14 of 26 passes for 145 yards.

Henderson (2-1) had little success running the ball after rushing for 748 yards in its first two games. The Colonels had minus-5 rushing yards at halftime — eight of their 18 plays in the first half went for losses — and finished with 69.

“Our D-line’s pretty good, too,” Haddix said. “We have confidence in our defense. We punted to them … when we were up by a touchdown (in the fourth quarter), so we’ve obviously got faith in our defense.”

Meanwhile, the Colonels completed only three passes for 49 yards.

“There was so much pressure on the quarterback to where he was hurrying his throws,” Ziesmer said.

Ziesmer led the Rebels with seven tackles, six of which were for losses. Cole Sims and Jayce Crowe had five stops each, and Quisenberry and Brock Driver each had three tackles for losses. Sims also recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass.

Henderson (2-1) took the field with confidence that only grew when the Colonels forced a three-and-out on Boyle’s first series and Jaheim Williams returned a punt 51 yards for a touchdown.

Boyle was blanked in the first quarter but cashed in on Sims’ fumble recovery at the Henderson 31-yard line to take a 7-6 lead less than two minutes into the second period.

Boyle doubled its score in the final minute of the first half, then took a 17-6 lead in the third quarter on Andrews’ 30-yard field goal before the Colonels rallied and the Rebels’ resolve was tested.

“We continued to fight, and that just (speaks to) how much our guys work and what they do,” Haddix said.

Scoring summary

HC 6 0 11 0 — 17

BC 0 14 3 14 — 31

First Quarter

Henderson — Jaheim Williams 51 punt return (kick failed), 9:58.

Second Quarter

Boyle — Montavin Quisenberry 18 pass from Sage Dawson (Cole Andrews kick), 10:02.

Boyle — Quisenberry 18 pass from Dawson (Andrews kick), :59.

Third Quarter

Boyle — FG Andrews 30, 5:46.

Henderson — FG Xavier Cruse 36, 2:07.

Henderson — Jackson Pendergraft 31 pass from Trajdon Davis (Jordan Wright run), :24.

Fourth Quarter

Boyle — Quisenberry 4 pass from Dawson (Andrews kick), 7:06.

Boyle — Quisenberry 36 pass from Dawson (Andrews kick), 2:11.