WINCHESTER, Ky. — Henderson County couldn’t overcome a strong offensive showing from George Rogers Clark (5-2) Friday night, falling 34–14 on the road. The loss drops the Colonels to 3-3 on the season as they enter the heart of District play.
GRC struck early and often, capitalizing on short fields and strong rushing production to build an 14-7 advantage at the half, that Henderson County couldn’t erase. The Colonels battled throughout, but the Cardinals’ balanced attack ultimately proved too much.
Marigny Paces Henderson Offense
Sophomore running back Anzerion Marigny was the highlight offensively for the Colonels, rushing for 110 yards and a touchdown on 12 carries. Marigny broke free for several key gains, including Henderson County’s first score of the night on a 52-yard TD rush.
Backup RB Kieran Cole added a rushing touchdown of his own late in the 4th quarter, finishing with 56 yards on 6 carries, while Kingston Shidler returned from injury (ankle sprain) and contributed 43 yards on 14 carries, along with 2 catches for 41 yards. The Colonels totaled 223 rushing yards, showing flashes of their ground potential even in the defeat.
Through the air, the passing game had a quieter evening, with Brody Belt completing 9 of 20 passes for 186 yards. Henderson outgained GRC, as they finished with 409 yards of total offense, but a few key drives stalled in GRC territory due to untimely penalties.
Colonels Defensive Effort Tested
The Colonel defense was tested all night by a fast and physical George Rogers Clark offense that mixed the run and pass effectively. GRC finished with 177 rushing yards and 194 passing yards for a total of 371 yards.
Henderson forced a pair of turnovers and made several key stops, but the Cardinals converted enough third downs to keep momentum on their side.
GRC’s third-string QB Carter Muzic finished with 194 yards passing going 17-of-29 for one TD, adding a rushing TD as well. Cardinals running back Stryker Davidson added 114 yards rushing on 12 carries, tallying two touchdowns. GRC’s leading reciever was junior Athias Morris who hauled in 6 receptions for 82 yards.
Stat Recap
Henderson County – Team Totals:
- Rushing: 223 yards
- Passing: 186 yards
- Total Offense: 409 yards
- First Downs: 19
- Third Down: 3-of-10
- Fourth Down: 0-of-2
- Turnovers: 2
- Penalties: 6 for 51 yards
George Rogers Clark – Team Totals:
- Rushing: 177 yards
- Passing: 194 yards
- Total Offense: 371 yards
- First Downs: 13
- Third Down: 4-of-9
- Fourth Down: 0-of-1
- Turnovers: 1
- Penalties: 14 for 124 yards
Looking Ahead
The Colonels will look to regroup and get back on track next week as they return home to Colonel Stadium. With district play rounding out their schedule, Henderson County aims to clean up execution when they host Christian County (1-5) for a 7pm kickoff.
— Photos Courtesy of Eric Shappell —
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