Kentucky's Last-Second Heave Falls Incomplete

By Bo Kidd

University of the Cumberlands

Published in Times-Tribune/Monday, January 9, 2012

The 5th annual National Guard Border Bowl took place on Saturday January 7, in Williamsburg on the campus of the University of the Cumberlands.

The Tennessee All-Stars and the Kentucky All-Stars suited up in their respective orange and blue uniforms and battled once again for "bragging rights of the border" and once again the teams didn't let the fans down, giving the near 5,000 fans in attendance a show to remember as Tennessee pulled off a 24-20 victory.

The Tennessee All-Stars found the scoreboard early in this one as they won the toss and chose to receive.  Quickly after eight plays and 80 yards, Tennessee's Chase Travis from Pigeon Forge High School found the endzone from two yards out to make it a 6-0 ballgame.  The extra point by Oneida High School's Douglas Manning was good which gave the Tennessee All-Stars an early 7-0 lead that would stay intact throughout much of the first half.

With 3:58 left to go in the first half, Seth Carmichael from Anderson County High School evened up the scoreboard with a 37 yard pass to Covington Holy Cross' Eric Walker for a Kentucky touchdown.  The extra point by Whitley County's Seth McCoy was good and the score was tied at  7-7 going into halftime.

Tennessee would answer back with 7:52 left in the third quarter when Clarencio Holmes from Hixon High School would punch one into the endzone from seven yards out for a touchdown.  The PAT by Manning was good putting Tenenssee back on top 14-7.

Manning would find the scoreboard again for Tennessee connecting on a 28 yard field goal with 12:00 minutes to play in the game extending Tennessee's lead to 17-7.  That field goal just broke open the scoring in this one as Kentucky's All-Stars would battle back in big fashion.

The next drive after Manning's field goal, John Hardin High School's Jeremy Harness would bust one big as he scampered 52 yards for a touchdown for the Kentucky All-Stars.  McCoy's extra point was no good and with 9:52 left to play in the game, Kentucky had pulled it back within a score at 17-13.

Tennessee wasn't ready to hang up its helmets just yet though.  After a personal foul penalty on Kentucky helped keep the drive alive for Tennessee, Tullahoma High School quarterback Jared Davis found Morristown West High School standout Jerimia Gregg for a 32-yard touchdown pass giving Tennessee the lead back with just 50 seconds to play.  Manning's PAT was good making it a 24-20 ballgame in favor of Tennessee. 

Kentucky would drive though and with the help of a double reverse quarterback throwback, would make it to Tennessee's 30-yard line with just one second left to play.  A final last ditch effort and hail mary pass by Middlesboro High School's Chase Roark looked as if a Kentucky receiver came down with a game winning catch, but was knocked away at the last second giving Tennessee its third straight Border Bowl Championship with a 24-20 win in Williamsburg.

Numerous players were given individual awards at the end of the game, but each player in this game gave their all in the fantastic effort by both teams.  The fans came away electric withthe excitement and each player walked away with their head up and proud because they gave the fans in attendance as well as those watching from home a game to remember for years to come.  The Border Bowl committee will have a daunting task to top this year's game, but each and every year they continue to show us that some of the best high school talent in the country is right here in Kentucky and Tennessee.

2012 Stats

Tennessee 24, Kentucky 20

Tennessee    7         0          7         10      -         24
Kentucky        0         7          0         13      -        20

TN - Chase Travis 2 run (Douglas Manning kick)

KY - Seth Carmichael 37 run (Seth McCoy kick)

TN - Clarencio Holmes 7 run (Manning kick)

TN - Manning 28 FG

KY - Jeremy Harness 52 run (kcik failed)

KY - Cory Davenport 30 run (Zack Burgy-Vanhoose kick)

TN - Jerima Gregg 32 pass from Jaren Davis (Manning kick)

Individual Stats

Rushing:  KY - Harness 57, Davenport 44, Roark 16, Maynard 4,  TN - Holmes 38, Davis 25, Blance 23, Boles 17.

Passing:  KY - Carmichael 9-11-88, Roark 7-19-81.  TN - Davis 9-16-131, Lavoi 7-12-59.

Receiving:  KY - Harness 3-35, Murphy 3-16, Walker 2-43, Mulderink 2-20.  TN - Minga 6-115, Gregg 6-82, Griffin 23-10.

Tennessee All-Star Roster 2012

2012 Tennessee Coaches

Jim Moore, Seymour High School, Head Coach

Scott Branton, Seymour High School

Greg Wyant, Seigel High School

Mike Martin, East Ridge High School

Houston White, Chattanooga Hixon High School

Robbie Black, Fulton High School

Lee Hammonds, Pigeon Forge High School

John Brewster, Oneida High School

Kentucky All-Star Roster 2012

2012 Kentucky Coaches

Sam Harp, Danville High School, Head Coach

Tom Larkey, Harlan County High School, Assistant Head Coach

Ray Graham, Lexington Christian Academy, Assistant Coach

Jeff Hester, Boyle County High School, Assistant Coach

Mike Holcomb, Breathitt County High School, Assistant Coach

Brad Hood, Allen County-Scottsville High School, Assistant Coach

Jerry Perry, Danville High School, Assistant Coach

Todd Shipley, Shelby County High School, Assistant Coach

Craig Yeast, Bryan Station High School, Assistant Coach

2012 Stats

Tennessee 24, Kentucky 20

Tennessee    7         0          7         10      -         24
Kentucky       0         7          0         13      -        20

TN - Chase Travis 2 run (Douglas Manning kick)

KY - Seth Carmichael 37 run (Seth McCoy kick)

TN - Clarencio Holmes 7 run (Manning kick)

TN - Manning 28 FG

KY - Jeremy Harness 52 run (kcik failed)

KY - Cory Davenport 30 run (Zack Burgy-Vanhoose kick)

TN - Jerima Gregg 32 pass from Jaren Davis (Manning kick)

Individual Stats

Rushing:  KY - Harness 57, Davenport 44, Roark 16, Maynard 4,  TN - Holmes 38, Davis 25, Blance 23, Boles 17.

Passing:  KY - Carmichael 9-11-88, Roark 7-19-81.  TN - Davis 9-16-131, Lavoi 7-12-59.

Receiving:  KY - Harness 3-35, Murphy 3-16, Walker 2-43, Mulderink 2-20.  TN - Minga 6-115, Gregg 6-82, Griffin 23-10.