Campbell rally falls short vs. EC

ALEXANDRIA, Ky. — Campbell County made a furious fourth quarter comeback but the Camels had dug themselves too big of a hole, as East Central hung on for a 24-21 victory in an interstate matchup.

It was already an emotional night in Alexandria as the Camels honored former player Mitch Kramer, who was killed earlier in the week in an ATV accident, with a pregame moment of silence.

The Camels had a chance to take the lead late, but as quarterback Carson Plessinger was driving his team toward the end zone for what would have been a third fourth quarter touchdown. Plessinger escaped the pressure of the pocket collapsing around him only to have East Central’s Justin Ward step in front on the intended receiver for a game ending interception.

East Central (1-0) dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball in the first half. Behind a strong running attack from quarterback Luke Patton and running back Doug Rosemeyer, the Trojans put together a pair of long scoring drives.

Patton capped off a 10-play, 59-yard drive and a 12-play, 87-yard drive that lasted a combined 17 minutes with short touchdown runs of eight and nine yards respectively.

Patton rushed for 119 yards on 17 carries while Rosemeyer carried the ball 20 times for 116 yards. The East Central running attack accounted for 286 of the Trojans’ 355 yards of total offense.

Campbell County (0-1) showed signs of life late in the second quarter. Plessinger threw a 44-yard touchdown pass to Jake Comer, cutting the East Central lead in half to 14-7 with three minutes left before halftime.

East Central was able to score in the final seconds before the intermission with a 25-yard field goal by Nick Stidham.

Both teams went scoreless in the third quarter but East Central was still putting together another long drive that payed off early in the fourth quarter.

Freshman backup quarterback Alex Maxwell engineered a 20-play drive that covered 95 yards. Maxwell, who came in for an injured Patton, completed three passes on the drive including a 12-yard scoring strike to Clayton Castle.

Trailing 24-7, the Camels were finally able to get their offense clicking. Nick Mayer caught a 55-yard pass that set up Plessinger for a one-yard touchdown run.

East Central was leading 24-14 with eight minutes left to play in the game when Campbell County went for the onside kick. The Trojans made the recovery but did not take advantage.

East Central committed a costly turnover five plays later, as Campbell County’s Michael Trout recovered a fumble near midfield.

It took 10 plays, but the Camels scored again on Plessinger’s six-yard run with 2:51 left to play, cutting the lead to three.

East Central turned the ball over on downs to give the Camels one last chance. That’s when Ward became the hero for East Central with the game-clinching interception.

East Central head coach Justin Roden was very happy to get a win a hostile environment, beginning a tough three-game stretch to begin the season.

“It’s a fun game, a unique game because we go across the border to play somebody different in an intense environment,” Roden said. “Coach (Stephen) Lickert does such a great job, so to walk out of here with a victory on their field is nothing but a great thing for us.”

East Central hosts its rival Harrison at Trojan Stadium next week and then will play Ohio Division-II state champion La Salle.

It’s not much easier for Campbell County next week as the Camels face the challenge of head coach Stephen Lickert alma matter, perennial powerhouse Highlands in Fort Thomas.

East Central – 7 10 0 7 24
Campbell County – 0 7 0 14 21

SCORING PLAYS
1st Quarter
EC-Luke Patton 8-yard TD run (Nick Stidham kick) – 5:39
2nd Quarter
EC-Luke Patton 9-yard TD run (Nick Stidham kick) – 6:56
CC-Carson Plessinger 44-yard TD pass to Jake Comer (Trey
Schierenbeck kick) – 3:00
EC-Nick Stidham 25-yard FG – 0:03
4th Quarter
H-Alex Maxwell 12-yard pass TD pass to Clayton Castle (Nick Stidham
kick) – 11:55
CC-Carson Plessinger 1-yard TD run (Trey Schierenbeck kick) – 7:59
CC-Carson Plessinger 6-yard TD run (Trey Schierenbeck kick) – 2:51

Postgame interview video of Justin Roden: http://youtu.be/hLMVw2-hSjY

Postgame interview video of Doug Rosemeyer and Hunter Armstrong: http://youtu.be/aXZn-VZ47IY

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