By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — As far as Jeff Richey can tell, Christian County has no weaknesses.
The Barren County coach has reviewed film of the Trojans’ opponent in their postseason opener, and has come to a simple, daunting conclusion:
“They’ve got kids that are unbelievable,” he said. “I haven’t seen very many weaknesses at all.”
Barren will attempt to find a weakness when they travel to Christian County on Friday to take on the 6-4 Colonels in the first round of the 5A Gridiron Commonwealth Bowl.
Richey said this week’s game, unlike the 10 before it, doesn’t come with the guaranteed comfort of knowing there’s always next week.
“It’s do or die this week. (Against Bowling Green), we knew in the back of our minds we had another game no matter what happened,” he said. “But if you lose, you go home.
“It’s going to be a tough one.”
Barren’s game against Bowling Green last week was definitely a tough one.
The Purples held the Trojans to just 106 total yards while amassing 318 of their own and putting up seven first-half touchdowns en route to a 49-0 win.
Barren did stop an early drive Bowling Green drive with a Kris Aquino interception in the end zone, but were unable to answer the Purples’ 35 second quarter points and fell into a deep hole early.
Richey said avoiding an early deficit will be key against Christian County, and has been for the Trojans all season.
“It’s just like the Pulaski (County) game,” Richey said, referring the Trojans’ 35-34 victory on Sept. 25. “When we get on the board first and play back and forth, we stay in it. But if we get down early, it’s tough for us to come back against teams with more speed.”
And speed is something Christian has plenty of.
Senior running back Vashun Banks led the Colonels in rushing this season with 833 yards and eight touchdowns, while quarterback Alex Davie added 532 yards and six touchdowns. The junior also threw for more than 500 yards, six touchdowns and neglected to throw an interception all season.
It’s a defensive player, however, that has Richey’s full attention.
Richey said Colonel linebacker T.J. Grimes will present a touch matchup for Barren.
“He’s a gap destroyer. A bowling ball in the middle,” Richey said. “He’ll demand a double team every play.”
Despite its winning record, Christian will come into Friday on a two-game losing streaks after defeats from Oakland (Tenn.) and undefeated Boyle County.
Like Barren, Christian’s last win came against winless Ohio County.
That doesn’t mean the Colonels are necessarily struggling.
Of Christian’s four losses, two came from top Tennessee teams. Oakland — a 2008 state champion — lost only two games this season, as did Franklin (Tenn.) Christian’s other losses came courtesy of Bowling Green (8-2) and Boyle (10-0).
Barren has struggled in recent weeks. After defeating Pulaski, Barren dropped three of its last four games and was outscored 152-14 in those losses.
The Trojans did find some offensive success against Ohio. Quarterback Colton Phelps rushed for 170 and threw for 116 to put up five total touchdowns. Tyler Hughes, Tyler Furlong, Gill Thomas, Tim Sneed and Shelby Bailey combined to run for more than 150 and Jess Hunt tossed in 52 yards receiving in the 41-20 win.
Positive or negative, Richey knows his team can’t focus on the past and can only worry about doing the little things to put themselves in position for a victory.
“We’ve got to pin them and get some three and outs,” he said. “Like any underdog, we’ve got to keep it close and give ourselves a chance to win.”
