Sunday, Nov. 16, 2008

Big finish caps Wildcats playoff opener

Carden, Wells top 100 yards rushing in Lexington’s first playoff win since ’05

In the first quarter of the Class 4A Division I first-round game, Lexington’s offense was a slow-burning cinder.

By the fourth quarter, Lexington had torched visiting Stratford like a fast-moving wildfire.

The Wildcats (9-3, 5-2) forced two fumbles on defense and produced 231 yards of offense in the second half to defeat Stratford 49-20 on Saturday.

The postseason victory was the Wildcats’ first since 2004 and sends them on the road for a second-round game against Dorman (11-0).

“We tried to control the clock in the first half, run straight at them and use Anthony (Carden) to soften them up,” coach Allen Sitterle said.

Carden had 14 carries for 53 yards in the first half and finished with 19 carries, 129 yards and a score.

“Once we got them keying on one guy, we can get some other guys loose,” said Sitterle.

Dexter Wells, whose 9-yard run gave Lexington a 13-0 second-quarter lead, was the beneficiary of the strategy. He rushed for 112 yards in the second half.

“I had to help my team out, because we had to win this game,” said Wells.

Though Stratford (3-9) never led, the Knights stayed close into the second half behind big plays.

When Lexington fumbled a punt midway through the third quarter, Stratford’s Marquis West recovered it at the Lexington 28. Given new life, Stratford scored on Tyler McDonald’s 6-yard run.

McDonald led Stratford with 143 rushing yards and two touchdowns.

But the Knights’ defense and special teams could not stop Lexington all night.

Late in the third quarter, Wells broke off a 57-yard run that set up Carden’s touchdown, giving Lexington a 35-14 lead. In the fourth, he added an insurance score with a 24-yard run.

Lexington’s special teams got in on the act as well. Xavier Salley blocked a point-after try following Stratford’s last touchdown. Shaq Roland recovered an onside kick.

Reach Nelson at (803) 771-8419.

L — Tradd Hunter 3 run (pass failed)

Second quarter

L — Dexter Wells 9 run (Anthony Carden run)

S — Tyler McDonald 14 run (Wil Graham kick)

L — Adrian Wigfall 17 pass from Tradd Hunter (Wes Bennett kick)

Third quarter

L —Hunter 4 run (Wes Bennett kick)

S — McDonald 6 run (Graham kick)

L — Carden 11 run (Bennett kick)

S — Jamorris Powell 46 run (kick blocked)

Fourth quarter

L — Dexter Wells 24 run (Bennett kick)

L — Bradley Moore 28 fumble recovery (Bennett kick)

RUSHING—S: Tyler McDonald 22-143, Jamorris Powell 9-74. L: Anthony Carden

PASSING—S: Tyler McDonald 8-16-35. L: Tradd Hunter 5-6-55.

RECEIVING—L: Adrian Wigfall 2-28.