Titans Take To The Air In 35-14 Dismantling Of Marion County
The Harrodsburg Herald/Samuel Warren
Mercer County Head Coach Craig Yeast was applauding Cornelius Mapp after throwing his fifth touchdown of the game.
Samuel Warren
Herald Staff
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Mercer County Senior High School football (2-4) traveled to Lebanon on Friday, Oct. 4, with hopes to end a two-game losing skid in the season’s first meeting of District 4 opponents. Marion County (3-3) came into the game looking for their fourth straight win after three wins of more than 29 points against Washington County, Thomas Nelson and Dayton propelled the Knights’ to .500.
The Titans set the tone on the kickoff as Cameron Bottoms and Jayden Sailor combined for a big hit on the return man and put the Knights back at their 10-yard line. The momentum carried into the ensuing drive, and Mercer County forced a three-and-out behind intense and physical play from the front seven. Linebackers Landon Yates and Grant Bennett were meeting Knight runners at the line of scrimmage all game if JJ Goodman or Gavinn Rodriguez hadn’t already wrapped up the runner.
Marion County did an excellent job of containing the Titan offense on their opening offensive drive. Still, Cohen Sanford lowered his shoulder and powered through two Knight defenders on fourth down to keep the drive alive. Cornelius Mapp looked like a completely new player. Every ball was a tight spiral, and the junior completed all four pass attempts on the Titans’ opening drive. After a penalty, the Titans moved back to the Knight 11-yard line on fourth and goal. Mapp let it fly on his first read, and Jacob Sanford snagged his first touchdown of the season in the corner of the endzone.
The Knights’ run game improved on their second drive, and the Titans struggled to bring down senior ball-carrier Jonathon Marples. Six straight runs from the Knights resulted in 50 yards of offense before the option pitch caught the Titans off guard and moved Marion County into the red zone. Seniors Yates and Rodriguez stepped up and made back-to-back stops at the line of scrimmage to force a third down. Yates intercepted the third down pass attempt that followed and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown, but the play was brought back for a roughing the passer penalty. Marion County was gifted a fresh set of downs, but the Titan defense held firm and finally ended the 17-play, 82-yard drive after Bennett flattened the Knight quarterback for a four-yard loss.
