Kyle Lovern

Sports Editor

PRESTONSBURG, Ky. – Sheldon Clark went on the road and almost pulled off the big upset losing 48-40 to home-standing Prestonsburg last Friday night.

In fact, the Cardinals drove to the Blackcats three yard line and facing a 4^th and goal, SCHS coach Shawn Hager went for broke. Many Cardinal fans thought that Bryce Workman made it into the end zone, but he was called short. With only :54 seconds remaining, that was the ball game.

The Cards drew first blood with 10:51 in the first quarter on a 1-yard run by Tyler O’ Connor. The PAT was blocked, but the visitors took the early lead.

The big play of the 6-play drive was a 38 yard pass from Workman to Austin Preece.

After interception by Trevor Blackburn , SCHS only took five plays covering 36 yards and O’ Connor hit paydirt from eight yards out. The conversion failed with 5:01 left in the quarter.

Late in the opening quarter, P’ Burg’s Jarred Jarrell hit Adam Kidd with an 82-yard touchdown pass. Jon Stitdam’s kick made it 12 – 7.

In the second quarter the Cards scored again with 7:27 left after a 15-play, 71 yard drive.

O’Connor ran it in from six yards. The conversion failed but it was 18 - 7.

The Blackcats score on a 30 yard run by Jarrell. The kick failed, but SCHS led 18-13 with 5:38 left in the half.

With five seconds remaining on clock, P’ Burg was muffed a punt. With no time on the clock O’ Connor got into the end zone again from five yards. Workman added the 2-point conversion and the Martin Countians led 26 - 13 at halftime.

In the third quarter, P’Burg started out with a 3-play, 46 yard drive capped by a Jarrell 15 yard TD run. Stidham’s kick made it 26-20.

The Cards fumbled on their first possession and the Cats recovered.

One play later Jarrell hit Bryson Williams for a 41 yard touchdown pass. The PAT made it 27 - 26 P’Burg.

On the Cards next possession, Workman was picked off by Adam Kidd. The two teams traded possessions, then Williams returned a punt 64 yards for score. The PAT failed and it was 33 – 26.

With 1: 17 left in the third, SCHS went six plays and 76 yards as Chase Lafferty hit paydirt from eight yards. Lafferty also ran in for the two point conversion to cut it 34- 33. O’ Connor had two runs of 38 and 13 yards to set up that score.

The Blackcats got a 15 yard scoring run by Jarrell with :41 seconds left in quarter. Grant Anderson ran in for the 2-point conversion and P’ Burg led 41-34.

In the 4th quarter, SCHS had a 9-play, 65 yard drive as O’ Connor scored again from six yards away. The conversion failed, but it was 41- 40 with 9:13 left in the game.

On the next P’ Burg series, Anderson got into the end zone on a one yard run and Stidham’s kick made it 48 - 40 with 7 : 01 remaining.

O’ Connor had an outstanding game with 24 carries, 123 yards and five TD’s. He also had seven tackles, six assists and blocked a punt on defense.

Butcher ran it 11 times for 71 yards and Lafferty had 13 tries for 54 yards. Workman had 12 runs for 61 yards and he was 2 of 12 passing for 44 yards, with a pair of interceptions.

Sheldon Clark is now 1-1 on the season and will play host to Casey County Saturday with a 6: 30 p.m. kickoff, which is the annual Calloway Bowl.