Published: November 06, 2009 10:07 am      

Dawgs have blond ambition

Lawrence has more in mind, and in hair, after perfect regular season; Rowan set to host playoff game

One team will sport new hairdos. Another has some secrets in store.

Lawrence County completed the best season-to-season turnaround in Kentucky high school football history last week by turning an 0-11 record into a 10-0 record. Most of the players celebrated by dying their hair blond.

Rowan County (7-3) put together its best season since having the same record in 1996, and will host a playoff game for the first time in 25 years.

“It’s huge for our community,” said Rowan County coach ShaDon Brown. “It’s going to be a festive environment. We have some surprises for the home crowd.”

The Vikings have already surprised the home crowd with a memorable season, but Rockcastle County stands in the way of continuing it. The Rockets have not lost a first-round playoff game since 1998.

“(Rockcastle County) has always been physical and tough,” Brown said. “Their record is no indication of the football team they have.”

Two highlight-reel running backs put some pizazz on this matchup — Darrell Cross for Rowan County and Clarke Rowe for Rockcastle County. Cross has amassed 1,513 yards rushing, but Rowe has topped that by 327 yards.

Rowe is a concern for the Vikings, who have given up 225 rushing yards per game this season.

“Rowe is one of the top two or three backs that I’ve seen all year,” Brown said. “He runs north and south, runs very tough up inside the tackles.”

Rowan County is coming off a 36-19 victory over 5A Montgomery County, and Brown hopes the momentum carries into tonight.

“We’re riding high right now,” Brown said. “Any time you win a game to end the regular season, it gives you a good taste.”

Lawrence County senior Shane Pack is another running back that has put up impressive numbers this season. He’s done it behind a solid group of big offensive linemen.

Even with the drastic turnaround, Bulldogs coach Luke Salmons said his team still craves more.

“They’re hungry still,” Salmons said. “They have a sense of accomplishment, going 10-0, but they’re very confident. They feel like they can beat anybody.”

McCreary Central (7-3) rolls into Louisa and will likely give Lawrence County one of the toughest tests it has faced this season. The Raiders have two 1,000-yard rushers in Zach Roark and Aaron Watts, the quarterback.

“(Watts) will roll right, roll left and roll right again and run for 40 (yards),” Salmons said. “He’s a really good player. They seem to be better offensively than defensively.”

The Bulldogs’ last playoff win came in 2001, but Salmons believes his offensive line can sustain the same success it has had all season.

“We’re going to continue what we do, play four quarters, be physical,” Salmons said. “I think we can control the line of scrimmage. That has paid off for us all year.”

Lawrence County has been the beneficiary of good health all season, and that continues into tonight.

Boyd County will travel to Knox Central, the same team that knocked the Lions out of the postseason last year. The Lions are coming off their worst loss since 2006 with a 46-0 defeat to Ashland.

Greenup County goes to Bell County, which lost to Alcoa, Tenn. to begin the season. The Bobcats have since beaten nine straight opponents by an average of 35.7 points per game. They are ranked second in most statewide polls.

AARON SNYDER can be reached at asnyder@dailyindependent.

com or (606) 326-2664.