By STEVE CORNELIUS, CJ Sports Editor
Somerset — After a come-from-behind 35-28 win over Rockcastle County last night at the Reservation, an emotional Warrior assistant coach Jim Girdler exclaimed, “This win is for Coach A.”
For the first time in program history, the Warriors had to play without the services of head coach Dale Anderson — who was recovering from knee surgery.
And while it was the first Southwestern football game Anderson never got to witness, it will be a Southwestern football game that many will never forget.
Trailing 28-27, Southwestern had their backs against the wall with 33 seconds left in the game and facing a 4th-and-24 from the Rockets’ 24-yard line.
Warrior sophomore quarterback Zack Turpin faded back in the pocket and watched the play unfold before he threw a strike down the middle to Alex Jones, who was open in the end zone for the Warriors’ ‘go ahead’ score.
“I was wide open from the ‘get-go’ because the corner was out there on another receiver and the safety was on top of the inside receiver,” senior receiver Alex Jones said. “So, I went straight down the field. I was wide open and I was just hoping he would throw the ball to me.”
Turpin did see Jones wide open streaking up the middle, and was able to pull the trigger for the winning pass play.
“We just ran three (receivers) down deep, (Rockcastle) was in cover-two and that that left Alex (Jones) wide open,” Turpin said. “I threw probably the ugliest pass in my life, but it found it’s way in there.”
Girdler was happy that Turpin was able to execute the pass play, but the veteran assistant Warrior coach was even more ecstatic that his young quarterback had the presence of mind to call the play in th first place.
“Me and Coach Burl called a couple of plays and went through it on the sidelines with Coach Spencer, but our quarterback (Turpin) said ‘lets run this play’,” Girdler said. “There it was — touchdown. That was his (Turpin’s call).”
After a Turpin pass to Fowler on the Warrior two-point conversion, Southwestern went up for good at 35-28.
Prior to the Southwestern winning 4th-and-24 pass play, the game had four lead changes.
Rockcastle got on the board first when defensive lineman Derek Thacker picked up a Warrior incomplete lateral, that fell to the ground behind the line of scrimmage, and ran it back 40 yards for the score.
Southwestern countered late in the first quarter when Turpin hit Zack Fowler for a short pass up the middle, which Fowler collided with a defender and then went 79 yards for the score to tie the game at 7-7.
Turpin would connect with Fowler for three touchdown passes (79 yards, 5 yards and 4 yards) on the night and a crucial two-point conversion late in the game.
The Warriors took their first lead of the game when Turpin threw a short pass to Taylor Mote that turned into a 29-yard touchdown to put Southwestern up 14-7 with 4:33 left in the first half.
The early part of the second half was dominated with the ground game of the Rocket’s Clarke Rowe, who scored touchdowns of 17 yards, 5 yards and 11 yards, while piling up 254 rushing yards.
Rowe scored with 10:17 left in the game to put the Rockets up 21-14. Less than two minutes later the Warriors countered with a a Turpin-Fowler pass play to tie the game at 21-21.
After Rockcastle was forced to punt with 6:02 still left in the game, Southwestern capitalized on another scoring drive that ended with a 4-yard touchdown pass play from Turpin to Fowler, putting the Warriors up 27-21 — after a missed PAT — with 3:28 left in the game.
Rockcastle County went right back to their ground game and a 11-yard touchdown run by Rowe with 2:08 left in the game and a 28-27 lead.
After Southwestern ended up with excellent field position on the ensuing kickoff, John Floyd broke loose for a 46-yard run putting the ball at the Rockets’ 4-yard line. However, the Warrior offense stalled with a loss of 20 yards on the next three offensive plays before Turpin connected with Jones on the fourth-down touchdown pass play.
It was ironic that a running team like Southwestern suddenly turned into a passing team as Turpin threw a career-high five passing touchdowns on the night, which matched his season total.
“Teams expect us to run the ball because we are a running team,” Turpin said. “(Rockcastle) was lining up in a defense that was giving us that dump (pass) and we took advantage of it.”
Without a doubt, Turpin had his best night of his young varsity career by competing 7 of 8 passes for 173 yards.
“We have got to be able to pass like that going into the playoffs,” Girdler said. “The passes we took Rockcastle was giving them to us, and we’ve got to take them.”
Despite Turpin’s breakout performance behind center, most of the players’, coaches’ and fans’ thoughts were on their absent leader — Coach Dale Anderson
“All of this is for Coach A,” Girdler said with emotion. “This is his program and we are just filling in for him right now. Tonight, was very emotional for me because I have been with Coach A for a long time and him not being here killed us all. I knew he wouldn’t be here tonight and that was killing him and that’s what got to me.”
“He wasn’t here tonight, but he knows what happened because he called us at halftime and he will probably call again in just a second.”
The Warriors (7-3, 3-1) will be off next week, but will return to the Reservation on Friday, Nov.6, for the first round of the post-season playoffs against an opponent to be named at a later date.
RC 7 0 7 14 — 28
SW 7 7 0 21 — 35
First Quarter
RC — Thacker 40-yard run fumble recover, 9:21 (Bishop PAT)
SW — Turpin to Fowler 79-yard pass, 2:10 (Starnes PAT)
Second Quarter
SW — Turpin to Mote 29-yard pass, 4:33 (Starnes PAT)
Third Quarter
RC — Rowe 17-yard run, 2:27 (Bishop PAT)
Fourth Quarter
RC — Rowe 5-yard run, 10:17 (Bishop PAT)
SW — Turpin to Fowler 5-yard pass, 7:56 (Starnes PAT)
SW — Turpin to Fowler 4-yard pass, 3:28 (PAT missed)
RC — Rowe 11-yard run, 2:08 (Bishop PAT)
SW — Turpin to Jones 24-yard pass , 0:28 ( Turpin to Fowler 2-pt. conv.)
RUSHING
SW — Mote 30-130, Floyd 15-91. RC — Bishop 27-254 3 TDs, Saylor 6-18.
PASSING
SW — Turpin 7-8-173 5 TDs, Mote 0-2-0. RC — Bishop 4-9-38.
RECEIVING
SW — Fowler 3-88 3 TDs, Simpson 1-9, Mote 1-29 TD, Floyd 1-23, Jones 1-24 TD. RC — Bullens 3-36, Todd 1-2.
