Defense flexes muscle again in Red Devils win over West Carter

OLIVE HILL  — Great defense, big plays, a Russell win. Wash, rinse, repeat.

The Red Devils used another strong defensive effort — along with some big plays from both the offense and special teams — to shoutout the West Carter Comets 35-0 on Friday night.

West Carter came into the game undefeated, sporting an offense that averaged 42 points per game and 366 yards per game. But on Friday, Russell's defense smothered the Comets, allowing just 27 total yards in the shutout victory.

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The Russell faithful didn't have to wait long for the first big play to happen, as it came on the third play from scrimmage.

On 3rd-and-11, Grayson Kiser came back and made a diving interception on a pass by quarterback Hayden Hall, giving the Red Devils the ball at the Comet 37.

Russell (3-0) cashed in on the takeaway, marching 37 yards in 8 plays to put up the games' first points.

Jayden Frasure nosed his way in from 1-yard out on fourth-and-goal for the touchdown. Sam Totten added the extra point to give Russell the early lead.

The Red Devils forced another 3-and-out, setting up the special teams to make the next big play for their next score.

Jayden Pennington fielded a punt off the foot of Will Caudill from his own 30, made the first man miss, and followed a wall of blockers along the near sideline untouched for the score. Gavin Skaggs added the point after try to make it 14-0.

West Carter came up with a defensive stop later in the quarter, but the drive stalled out and they lined up to punt.

But the Comets (2-1) tried a fake from their own 47, but the pass was off the mark and the Red Devils took over on downs.

Russell made good on the stop, as Frasure scored again on an 8-yard run to extend the lead and Totten added the extra point to make it 21-0 with 2:45 remaining before halftime.

West Carter's offense showed some signs of life in the final minutes, as they managed to move into Russell territory right before halftime. Hall hit Kadin Thompson on a slip screen to the far side, and the senior navigated his way to the Russell 38.

But the drive was quickly halted, as a fumbled snap on first down, and a combined sack from both Kanenan Jacobs and Zach Brown on third down pretty much snuffed out the Comets' best chance at getting points on the board.

In the second half, Russell needed just 4 plays to find the end zone again, as Frasure hit Jordan Rowe on a screen, and Rowe ran between the blocks of Jacobs and Jayden Frasure, and dashed the 51-yards for the touchdown. Skaggs added the point after to make it 28-0.

The offense didn't have to wait long to get back on the field, as an errant snap from center on West Carter's first play from scrimmage in the second half rolled along the ground and defensive tackle Dameon Willams recovered the loose ball.

Three plays later, Frasure dropped back to pass and threw the ball to a waiting Lane Osborne on a slip screen. Osborne followed behind the blocks of Ian Lother and Brody Smith, then made a cutback to the middle of the field to score from 32 yards out. Totten split the sticks to make it 35-0 and activate the KHSAA football mercy rule for the rest of the game.

Frasure finished 11-of-13 passing with 132 yards through the air. The senior quarterback was involved in 4 of the 5 offensive touchdowns for Russell. Rowe had a game-high 51 yards receiving. Caden Mitchell had a game-high four receptions for 36 yards.

The defense combined for 4 sacks in the game, with Brown recording two, and both Lother and Jacobs having one apiece.

The Red Devils return home next Friday to entertain the Paintsville Tigers.

Russell 14 7 7 0 = 35

West Carter 0 0 0 0 = 0

First Quarter

Ru — Jordan Rowe 1 run (Sam Totten kick), 5:51.

Ru — Jayden Pennington 70 punt return (Gavin Skaggs kick), 3:42.

Second Quarter

Ru — Jayden Frasure 8 run (Sam Totten kick), 2:45.

Third Quarter

Ru — Jordan Rowe 51 pass from Jayden Frasure (Gavin Skaggs kick), 9:13.

Ru — Lane Osborne 32 pass from Jayden Frasure (Sam Totten kick), 6:11.

———

Ru WC

First downs 13 4

Rushes-yards 25-102 19-(-5)

Passing yards 162 32

Total yards 264 27

Cmp-Att-Int 11-13-0 3-9-1

Fumbles-lost 0-0 1-3

Penalties-yards 8-65 2-10

Punts-average 1-22.0 3-28.67

———

Individual Leaders

RUSHING – Russell: Jordan Rowe 11-27, Ivan McDaniels 2-24, Jayden Frasure 4-13 2TD, Lane Osborne 3-8, Benjamin Brinkman 3-15; West Carter: Hayden Hall 8-minus 26, Nathaniel Hale 11-21.

PASSING – Russell: Jayden Frasure 11-13-0 162 2TD; West Carter: Hayden Hall 3-9-1 32.

RECEIVING – Russell: Jordan Rowe 1-51 TD, Caden Mitchell 4-36, Anderson Haggard 1-8, Jayden Pennington 2-18, Cayden Pennington 2-17, Lane Osborne 1-32 TD; West Carter: Kadin Thompson 3-32.

MISSED FIELD GOALS–None.