Published: September 29, 2008 11:31 pm      

MARK MAYNARD Defense? No thanks, not today

0930, mark maynard, column

Whatever happened to defense in high school football?

A check of last weekend’s scores would indicate there wasn’t a whole lot being played under those Friday night lights.

Eight teams scored more than 60 points, another dozen scored in the 50s and there were 32 more in the 40s.

There must be a lot of red-faced defensive coordinators in the state. But for fans that love scoring, it was their dream weekend.

Here are a few scores that will make your eyebrows raises and get the cheerleading squads working on that “DE-FENSE!!” cheer.

Fort Campbell won its 17th in a row in overwhelming fashion, destroying Todd County Central 70-16 after building a 57-8 halftime lead.

Fort Thomas Highlands, which needs no introduction to many teams in northeastern Kentucky, drubbed rival Covington Catholic 61-0 in the most lopsided game in the history of the 40-year-old series. And, reportedly, the Bluebirds top two running backs didn’t even play. Yikes! Residents in northern Kentucky are probably still hearing echoes from the cannon repeatedly firing.

Here’s a not-so-friendly reminder: It’s likely the No. 4 team from the Class 5A district that includes Ashland, Johnson Central, Woodford County, Bryan Station and Montgomery County will meet Highlands in the first round of the playoffs. Double Yikes!

Pulaski County defeated South Laurel 61-60 in a shootout that looked more like a basketball score. Same for Taylor County’s 65-56 win over Garrard County and Bardstown’s 58-45 victory over Washington County.

Imagine scoring 60, 56 and 45 — and losing the game.

Defense? Nah, who needs it.

Even locally, offense was front and center.

Raceland scored 34 first-half points en route to a 37-35 victory over Lexington Christian Academy, a game that puts the Rams in the driver’s seat with two games remaining in their Class A district.

Not only that, but it puts Raceland in the best shape ever to make a run at a state title. While such talk is a bit premature what with the Rams still needing to win two district games for it to happen, it’s hard not to look ahead a little bit.

Last year, LCA came out of that same slot in the bracket and went to the state finals against Beechwood.

But there’s still a long road to go before any of that happens.

Johnson Central scored 54 points and rushed for 684 yards, 26 yards shy of the national record for a single game.

Numbers like 684 are usually reserved for jumbo jet names, not single-game rushing totals. The Golden Eagles passed only once — Why throw it? — against a Woodford County team that many thought could win the district championship.

Chase Richardson and Nathan Dillon between them had scoring runs of 72, 76 and 85.

Johnson Central’s ground-churning machine plays crosstown rival Paintsville on Thursday in the Apple Bowl.

Ashland found some second-half offense as well against Montgomery County, putting up 35 points to snap a 13-13 tie en route to a 48-27 victory.

For the record, there was a little bit of defense played on Friday. Twelve teams recorded shutouts.

MARK MAYNARD can be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or (606) 326-2648.