Written by
Marc Hardin
Enquirer contributor
The Boone County football team won an intense defensive struggle against Ryle on Friday and avenged an earlier loss to the Raiders with a 14-7 Class 6A regional semifinal victory at Borland Stadium in Union.
"Our defense played great," said Boone County quarterback Kameron Schwartz, who aided the cause with an interception from his safety position. "It feels great to win."
The Rebels advanced to next week's regional final for the sixth time in 10 years because Schwartz kept redeeming himself following costly mistakes. Boone (8-4) got redemption following a 27-13 September loss to the Raiders (7-5).
Schwartz, who completed just three passes and was sacked twice, helped break a 7-all tie with a 1-yard keeper for a touchdown with 2:18 to play in the third quarter. The score capped a 13-play, 58-yard drive for the Rebels on the very next possession after Ryle's Ryan Smith intercepted Schwartz at the Raider 30 and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.
With the Rebels clinging to a seven-point lead, Schwartz lost a fourth-quarter fumble. The Raiders, however, could not take advantage as Boone County stopped them on four plays, thanks to a ferocious effort by linebacker Robbie Hiles. Boone regained possession, and with rushes of 13 and 12 yards by tailback Cody Rodriguez, moved the ball inside the Ryle 25. Rodriguez rushed 28 times for 150 yards.
Ryle took possession with 2:19 to play and had the ball at its own 44. But Schwartz intercepted Nathan Davis near midfield with 1:48 left, sealing a fourth win in five games for the surging Rebels.
"I'm sure he felt bad about the ball getting away from him, but Kameron made a lot of big plays tonight," Boone coach Rick Thompson said.
The Rebels will attempt to secure their first regional title since 2007 against Lafayette, a winner Friday over Campbell County. Boone allowed just three first downs against the Raiders, one by penalty.
The battered Raiders had their season ended after a spate of injuries to some of their star performers. At one point, the Raiders were playing without their top runner and quarterback. Leading rusher Travis Elliott was lost for the season with a knee injury and Davis missed time in the middle of the schedule.
"Injuries really hurt us this year. We just had too many," said Ryle senior kicker Toby Mrozek, who had a kick blocked for the first time in his career when the Rebels got a hand on a 29-yard first-quarter field-goal attempt.
Mrozek had been 25-for-25 on field-goal and point-after attempts.
"With Travis out for the year, that really made a big difference. But we kept playing hard," Mrozek said. "We were playing hard tonight, but I think that blocked field goal really set them up."
Defense ruled the first half, especially the second quarter, when both teams combined for four punts and minus-2 yards total offense. Boone got on the board first with a 1-yard first-quarter plunge by Mikel Reynolds, who rushed for 72 yards. Rodriguez carried eight times for 51 on the 14-play, 71-yard drive, including a 20-yard carry to the Ryle 1.
Davis ran twice for 52 yards on the game-opening drive. He finished with 72 and no completions. The Raiders' offense generated two first downs on the opening possession, but none after that. Boone outgained Ryle, 263-88. The Raiders were 0-for-8 on third down.
Boone County 7 0 7 0 --14
Ryle 0 0 7 0 --7
B-Reynolds 1 run (Black kick)
R-Smith 70 interception return (Mrozek kick) B-Schwartz 1 run (Black kick)
Records: B 8-4, R 7-5.
"Our defense played great," said Boone County quarterback Kameron Schwartz, who aided the cause with an interception from his safety position. "It feels great to win."
The Rebels advanced to next week's regional final for the sixth time in 10 years because Schwartz kept redeeming himself following costly mistakes. Boone (8-4) got redemption following a 27-13 September loss to the Raiders (7-5).
Schwartz, who completed just three passes and was sacked twice, helped break a 7-all tie with a 1-yard keeper for a touchdown with 2:18 to play in the third quarter. The score capped a 13-play, 58-yard drive for the Rebels on the very next possession after Ryle's Ryan Smith intercepted Schwartz at the Raider 30 and returned it 70 yards for a touchdown.
With the Rebels clinging to a seven-point lead, Schwartz lost a fourth-quarter fumble. The Raiders, however, could not take advantage as Boone County stopped them on four plays, thanks to a ferocious effort by linebacker Robbie Hiles. Boone regained possession, and with rushes of 13 and 12 yards by tailback Cody Rodriguez, moved the ball inside the Ryle 25. Rodriguez rushed 28 times for 150 yards.
Ryle took possession with 2:19 to play and had the ball at its own 44. But Schwartz intercepted Nathan Davis near midfield with 1:48 left, sealing a fourth win in five games for the surging Rebels.
"I'm sure he felt bad about the ball getting away from him, but Kameron made a lot of big plays tonight," Boone coach Rick Thompson said.
The Rebels will attempt to secure their first regional title since 2007 against Lafayette, a winner Friday over Campbell County. Boone allowed just three first downs against the Raiders, one by penalty.
The battered Raiders had their season ended after a spate of injuries to some of their star performers. At one point, the Raiders were playing without their top runner and quarterback. Leading rusher Travis Elliott was lost for the season with a knee injury and Davis missed time in the middle of the schedule.
"Injuries really hurt us this year. We just had too many," said Ryle senior kicker Toby Mrozek, who had a kick blocked for the first time in his career when the Rebels got a hand on a 29-yard first-quarter field-goal attempt.
Mrozek had been 25-for-25 on field-goal and point-after attempts.
"With Travis out for the year, that really made a big difference. But we kept playing hard," Mrozek said. "We were playing hard tonight, but I think that blocked field goal really set them up."
Defense ruled the first half, especially the second quarter, when both teams combined for four punts and minus-2 yards total offense. Boone got on the board first with a 1-yard first-quarter plunge by Mikel Reynolds, who rushed for 72 yards. Rodriguez carried eight times for 51 on the 14-play, 71-yard drive, including a 20-yard carry to the Ryle 1.
Davis ran twice for 52 yards on the game-opening drive. He finished with 72 and no completions. The Raiders' offense generated two first downs on the opening possession, but none after that. Boone outgained Ryle, 263-88. The Raiders were 0-for-8 on third down.
Boone County 7 0 7 0 --14
Ryle 0 0 7 0 --7
B-Reynolds 1 run (Black kick)
R-Smith 70 interception return (Mrozek kick) B-Schwartz 1 run (Black kick)
Records: B 8-4, R 7-5.
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