SCOTTSVILLE — A couple weeks ago, Barren County coach Jackson Arnett called Allen County-Scottsville running back Kelly Weger one of the most talented backs in the area.
The Greenwood Gator football program got a glimpse of the tailback in person.
Behind 196 yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries, the junior running back led the Patriots to their third straight win to begin the year, running past the Gators 27-7 on Friday night.
“That young man, the way he comes to practice everyday. The way he works, fights and pushes himself. It’s a sight to see,” ACS coach Brad Hood said during his postgame radio show. “He works hard in the weight room. He runs hard during wind sprints.
“He’s such a great kid and so coachable. It does me great to see him having the success he’s having because he’s worked so hard to get to this point,” Hood added.
Weger got the Patriot offense moving with a 14-yard scoring run just before the first quarter concluded, giving his team a 6-0 jumpstart.
Greenwood struggled on its first possession, fumbling and giving ACS great field position. But the Gator defense held steady and proved to help on the next drive. Greenwood countered, marching down the field for an eight-play drive that was capped off by a one-yard keeper by quarterback Zach Langevin, putting the Gators in front 7-6 just over 10 minutes to go in the second quarter.
The Patriots had a response of their own, and they used their strong running game to help out Zane Ward. On the ensuing drive, Ward connected with fullback Peyton Huff for a 17-yard score, putting the lead back in favor of ACS at 14-7.
ACS was in a position to put the game at two possessions two drives later, but Greenwood sophomore defensive back Samuel McNabb intercepted Ward’s pass just before halftime, allowing the Gators to stay in striking distance.
Hood has been using the combination of Ward and Trace McIntire throughout the last three weeks. While the production has been there, the turnovers have been as well.
“They’re both doing good things. We’ve got a shot to be pretty good, but we’ve got to quit having turnovers when it counts. When you get a shot to go up 14 at halftime, you’ve got to take advantage.”
That turnover didn’t matter, as the Gator defense continued to struggle defending Weger from the backfield.
Weger’s 71-yard touchdown run midway through the third quarter was an ultimate blow Greenwood couldn’t overcome, especially with a unit that was struggling to sustain drives and find the end-zone. That long run by Weger put the ACS at 21-7.
The Patriots’ depth in the running back room was on display, as Cayden Ross put the sealer on the envelope for the win after a one-yard score.
The offensive line and wide receiving core have been producing for Weger when it comes to blocking and providing space. Without those two unit providing running lanes, the junior running back might not have nearly 300 rushing yards the last two games.
“Our receivers did a good job blocking on the outside so I could make those cuts,” Weger said. “We just did a good job. But we still haven’t reached our potential. We played well tonight, but we still have room for improvement.”
Coach Hood has definitely noticed that notion as well.
“Our offense is getting better,” Hood said after the win. “Our offensive line has gotten better each week. They were a lot better tonight [against Greenwood]… They’re playing together and they’re fighting for one another… They have a good bond with each other. We just got to keep working and keep fighting.”
With the Patriots riding a three-game winning streak into a date with the Glasgow Scotties — a team that is also undefeated with wins over Fort Campbell, Russellville and Bardstown. Hood likes the promise of his team, but it’s about getting better on a weekly basis, which will set them up for a run in the 4A playoffs.
“I think we’re going to be something to deal with as we move forward,” Hood said.
