[RunItUpTheGut]

Final

[ontopofthewest]

Closer than I thought but sounded like desales owned the game... congrats desales...

[30 going on 40]

That stinks. De Sales was better, and it would have taken a perfect game... That onside was so close, #41 made a HUGE play jumping over NewCath's guys to recover a PERFECT onside kick. Not scoring at the end of the half was big, as was the hold, however, if you can't get off the field on 3rd down, you won't win. That was the key. De Sales QB did a great job scrambling for first downs and Byrd is very, very good.

[Spirit100]

Congrats to Desales on the state championship, a very athletic and well balanced football team!

[WideRight05]

Good job DeSales!!

[mysonis55]

Much better game than I thought.

[panther nation]

I thought it would have been a blowout, ended up a lot closer than I thought too.

[E's Army]

Congrats to DeSales. Congrats to New Cath on another great season.

[MayfieldCardinal]

Congrats to Desales on the state championship, a very athletic and well balanced football team!

Where is that picture from? It certainly looks nothing like the stadium I was in yesterday nicker:

[MayfieldCardinal]

Well of all the 12 teams that made it to state I would rank NCC and Williamsburg as a tie for #12

[mysonis55]

I was very surprised at how close NCC made this game.

[blue1424]

Congrats to DeSales on winning their first state title!

[blue1424]

Score one for the South End.

Dylan Byrd capped his remarkable career with three touchdowns and Nathan Roush passed for two scores as the DeSales High School football team beat Newport Central Catholic 34-26 in Saturday's Class 2-A championship game at Houchens Industries/L.T. Smith Stadium.

A crowd of 3,504 saw DeSales win its first state title and become just the second school from Louisville's South End to win a championship, joining Butler (1970 and 1979).

"I think it means more to the community and the alumni than it means to us," junior receiver/cornerback Austin Craig said as he was surrounded by celebrating fans. "We worked so hard. We deserve it."

DeSales (14-1) -- No. 10 in the state in The Courier-Journal's Litkenhous Ratings -- was playing in its third championship game, having lost to Henry Clay in the 1981 4-A final and to Fort Campbell in the 2009 2-A final.

Colts head coach Harold Davis was a senior safety on the 1981 team and an assistant coach in 2009.

"I was on one of those teams, so who knows?" Davis said when asked if this is the best team in DeSales history. "But the fact is, this is the first team to win a state championship. To be a part of it in any respect is just great for me."

Byrd, the school's all-time leading rusher, carried 22 times for 142 yards and two touchdowns and also had two receptions for 45 yards and a score. Roush completed 8 of 12 passes for 158 yards and rushed for 87 yards on 11 carries. Austin Craig had four catches for 105 yards.

"We have a great line, and Byrd's a great running back," Roush said. "He's fast and can find holes. We were able to do our regular thing, and we spread them out and passed the ball a little bit and got them on their heels."

Mac Franzen completed 16 of 28 passes for 318 yards and three touchdowns for the Thoroughbreds (10-5), who had won two of the previous three 2-A championships but started the 2013 season with a 1-4 record.

"They overcame a lot of adversity," first-year coach Dan Wagner said. "You can't believe how beat up we were at the beginning of the year. They just kept battling and got here, and nobody gave us a chance in the world to get here."

The teams traded touchdowns in the first half before Byrd's second touchdown -- a 6-yard run -- gave the Colts a 21-13 lead entering halftime.

The key swing came to start the third quarter, as the Thoroughbreds drove to the DeSales 19-yard line. DeSales' Gage Pintar sacked Franzen for a 9-yard loss on third down, and Connor Shipley recovered a fumble by Jacob Smith on fourth down to give the Colts the ball.

DeSales needed little time to capitalize as Byrd took a first-down carry around the left side and raced 73 yards for a touchdown and a 28-13 Colts lead.

"When Coach put in that play, I knew it was a touchdown from the beginning," Byrd said. "I knew the blocks were going to be on point, and it was just end zone from there."

Adam Nord's 1-yard touchdown run gave the Colts a 34-13 lead with 47 seconds left in the third quarter before the Thoroughbreds made it interesting in the fourth.

Franzen threw a pair of touchdown passes in the final period, the second one a 14-yarder to Tommy Donnelly that made it 34-26 with 1:30 left in the game. Donnelly finished with nine catches for 203 yards and two TDs.

DeSales recovered the onside kick and picked up two first downs to run out the clock, sparking a wild celebration on the field. "It got a little too close at the end," Davis said, "but we'll take it."

Roush agreed.

"Words can't describe how amazing this feels," he said. "I can't believe it."

http://lms.usatodayhss.com/louisville/ar...l-catholic

[Onespiritedfan]

NCC played very beat up, injury wise all year. Although this didn't affect the state championship Game, it does say a lot about the team as a whole. They fought hard to get to the state game, when others said it wouldn't happen.

[ColtPride]

It was a great game. Hats off to the NCC kids. They played hardnose football, along with DeSales. It was very physical, but I still saw each team helping the other up after plays. I think after we got up 34-13 we let up a little. The play calling went a little conservative.

Hats off the # 15 for NCC. He's a heck of a receiver. Great hands. That sideline catch he made in the first half was amazing Our kid played it perfectly and he still caught the ball.

#5 for NCC was all over the field as expected. Good player.

Two beefs I have, was the officiating. There were some terrible calls, both ways yesterday. And the selection of Caldwell Co coach for 2A coach of the year. I mean we heard all season long from EVERYBODY how dominating they would be, and how we were all playing for second place. They didn't even make it to the Semis. They totally underachieved with the talent they had. He didn't deserve coach of the year.

[Onespiritedfan]

It was a great game. Hats off to the NCC kids. They played hardnose football, along with DeSales. It was very physical, but I still saw each team helping the other up after plays. I think after we got up 34-13 we let up a little. The play calling went a little conservative.

Hats off the # 15 for NCC. He's a heck of a receiver. Great hands. That sideline catch he made in the first half was amazing Our kid played it perfectly and he still caught the ball.

#5 for NCC was all over the field as expected. Good player.

Two beefs I have, was the officiating. There were some terrible calls, both ways yesterday. And the selection of Caldwell Co coach for 2A coach of the year. I mean we heard all season long from EVERYBODY how dominating they would be, and how we were all playing for second place. They didn't even make it to the Semis. They totally underachieved with the talent they had. He didn't deserve coach of the year.

I said the same thing yesterday...how does the player and coach if the year go to a team that didn't even make it to the championship game get the player and coach of the year. All year long all you heard was Caldwell County was going to win state, I think a lot of people counted their chickens before they hatched!!!! I think the player and coach of the year should go to a coach and a player that actually played in the championship Game.

[Onespiritedfan]

The player and coach of the year were even voted on, weeks before the championship game, BEFORE Caldwell County got beat in the playoffs.

[strawberryshakeman]

It was a great game. Hats off to the NCC kids. They played hardnose football, along with DeSales. It was very physical, but I still saw each team helping the other up after plays. I think after we got up 34-13 we let up a little. The play calling went a little conservative.
Hats off the # 15 for NCC. He's a heck of a receiver. Great hands. That sideline catch he made in the first half was amazing Our kid played it perfectly and he still caught the ball.

#5 for NCC was all over the field as expected. Good player.

Two beefs I have, was the officiating. There were some terrible calls, both ways yesterday. And the selection of Caldwell Co coach for 2A coach of the year. I mean we heard all season long from EVERYBODY how dominating they would be, and how we were all playing for second place. They didn't even make it to the Semis. They totally underachieved with the talent they had. He didn't deserve coach of the year.

Hats off to the coaching staff at Desales, solid game plan. I don't think it was a matter of being conservative. I believe Desales coach felt as though the game was in hand and wasn't going to run the score up, which IMO is a class move. Congrats Desales on a state championship.

[NKYfootballfan91]

To all you mayfield fans you better feel lucky NCC hasn't been down in 1A the last few years. You would have no titles. Btw, NCC and desalles would roll mayfield this season.

For those of you who thought this would be a blowout, that's cause you don't know as much about this game as you think you do. Stick to soccer.

Now, desalles was defiantly the better team, but NCC had plenty of opportunities to win this game. Inside the red zone twice and no points. Could have very well been 21-14 NCC at half. Please don't say desalles dominated this game. On the very first possession, NCC drops a interception that would have led to an NCC TD. A phantom holding call on a KO return that negated an NCC TD. Byrd has 70 yards on 21 carries before busting his long 70 yd TD run. The desalles QB, IMO was the difference. He made plays and NCC struggled on 3rd down. In the end, NCC gave desalles all they could handle.
Losing sucks, but when you lose to a better team, it makes it a little less painful. Plus, highlands lost, makes you feel a little better as well.

[mysonis55]

Excuse me but the team that has struggled mightily with Beechwood would beat us. Come on dude. Even you don't believe that. We are still 2-1 vs the horse's.

[MayfieldCardinal]

To all you mayfield fans you better feel lucky NCC hasn't been down in 1A the last few years. You would have no titles. Btw, NCC and desalles would roll mayfield this season.

For those of you who thought this would be a blowout, that's cause you don't know as much about this game as you think you do. Stick to soccer.

Now, desalles was defiantly the better team, but NCC had plenty of opportunities to win this game. Inside the red zone twice and no points. Could have very well been 21-14 NCC at half. Please don't say desalles dominated this game. On the very first possession, NCC drops a interception that would have led to an NCC TD. A phantom holding call on a KO return that negated an NCC TD. Byrd has 70 yards on 21 carries before busting his long 70 yd TD run. The desalles QB, IMO was the difference. He made plays and NCC struggled on 3rd down. In the end, NCC gave desalles all they could handle.
Losing sucks, but when you lose to a better team, it makes it a little less painful. Plus, highlands lost, makes you feel a little better as well.

Want some more crow to eat, come on down, you would have a running clock on u every year, :truestory:

[mysonis55]

I'm sure the year after next we will have some openings on the schedule. One way to find out.

[mayfield_9]

neutral field
[2009] Mayfield (KY) 28, [2009] Newport Central Catholic (Newport, KY) 21

neutral field
[2010] Mayfield (KY) 31, [2010] Newport Central Catholic (Newport, KY) 30

neutral field
[2011] Mayfield (KY) 24, [2011] Newport Central Catholic (Newport, KY) 21

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[2012] Mayfield (KY) 35, [2012] Newport Central Catholic (Newport, KY) 24

neutral field
[2013] Mayfield (KY) 38, [2013] Newport Central Catholic (Newport, KY) 20

[KYHSFBFan]

To all you mayfield fans you better feel lucky NCC hasn't been down in 1A the last few years. You would have no titles. Btw, NCC and desalles would roll mayfield this season.

For those of you who thought this would be a blowout, that's cause you don't know as much about this game as you think you do. Stick to soccer.

Now, desalles was defiantly the better team, but NCC had plenty of opportunities to win this game. Inside the red zone twice and no points. Could have very well been 21-14 NCC at half. Please don't say desalles dominated this game. On the very first possession, NCC drops a interception that would have led to an NCC TD. A phantom holding call on a KO return that negated an NCC TD. Byrd has 70 yards on 21 carries before busting his long 70 yd TD run. The desalles QB, IMO was the difference. He made plays and NCC struggled on 3rd down. In the end, NCC gave desalles all they could handle.
Losing sucks, but when you lose to a better team, it makes it a little less painful. Plus, highlands lost, makes you feel a little better as well.

Not sure what your beef is with Mayfield, but, I feel pretty confident that we'd still have some titles had NCC been in 1a these past few years. Hell, ya'll wouldn't have gotten out of the 3rd round against Beechwood in half of those years, so, you'd have been a non factor to us. I have actually complemented NCC on yesterdays game. Felt they played about as well as they could have played. It's easy to slant a turnover here or a non made play there, but, it goes both ways. For example, that long TD pass in the 1st half by NCC was a very fortunate TD. The defender was there knocked the ball away right into the receivers hands. If that play results in an incompletion, ya'll are punting. That phantom holding call on the kickoff was a holding, plain and simple. It wasn't like the refs waited till the kid scored to all of a sudden throw the flag. It is what it is. Would the kid have scored anyway, maybe, maybe not, but, it happened, so, there was no touchdown. Woulda, coulda, shoulda is an easy game to play when its all over. as far as this year goes, Mayfield would beat NCC by a 2-3 score average in a 5 game series. Desales would be a great game that could go either way. I would lean to picking Desales 3 out of 5 though, but, there defense was a little suspect at times and Mayfield would exploit that.

[WideRight05]

The only good thing about the state finals this year is seeing New Cath go down.

[Can you dig it?]

Well of all the 12 teams that made it to state I would rank NCC and Williamsburg as a tie for #12

:lame: Wishful thinking. NewCath lost by 8 points. Williamsburg would have been almost as overmatched against the Breds as they were against Mayfield.

[NKYfootballfan91]

Excuse me but the team that has struggled mightily with Beechwood would beat us. Come on dude. Even you don't believe that. We are still 2-1 vs the horse's.

Spotted them 21 points off of fumbles in the first five minutes and then proceeded to out score them 34-10. In no way did we struggle. Btw, this was at beechwood this year. Beat beechwood by the same score mayfield did in 12. Not sure how they scored on mayfield, but a muffed punt on the 7 yard line is the only reason they scored on NCC in 12. Lets not forget, beechwood/NCC is a bigger rivalry than beechwood/mayfield.

The problem I have with mayfield is the jackarses that don't know their place. Mayfield doesn't win a title in 10, 11, 12 or 13 if NCC is down in 1A. Oh wait, didn't hazard beat Mayfield's butt in one of those years?

[Onespiritedfan]

The only good thing about the state finals this year is seeing New Cath go down.

Did your team win???? I don't think so.

[mantax]

To all you mayfield fans you better feel lucky NCC hasn't been down in 1A the last few years. You would have no titles. Btw, NCC and desalles would roll mayfield this season.

For those of you who thought this would be a blowout, that's cause you don't know as much about this game as you think you do. Stick to soccer.

Now, desalles was defiantly the better team, but NCC had plenty of opportunities to win this game. Inside the red zone twice and no points. Could have very well been 21-14 NCC at half. Please don't say desalles dominated this game. On the very first possession, NCC drops a interception that would have led to an NCC TD. A phantom holding call on a KO return that negated an NCC TD. Byrd has 70 yards on 21 carries before busting his long 70 yd TD run. The desalles QB, IMO was the difference. He made plays and NCC struggled on 3rd down. In the end, NCC gave desalles all they could handle.
Losing sucks, but when you lose to a better team, it makes it a little less painful. Plus, highlands lost, makes you feel a little better as well.

Excuses, Excuses, Excuses. Are all the phantom calls the reason that you® coaching staff was screaming at the officials or were they holding 45 all the time.