By RICKEY CLARDY ~ Sports Writer
MUNFORDVILLE, Ky. — The Community Vikings went to Kentucky Thursday night to take on the Hart County Raiders, but it was the Raiders who used a big first half to gain the upper hand and added to their lead in the second half as the Vikings fell 54-12.
After Community (2-6, 0-3) failed on a fourth down conversion attempt to start the game, the Raiders drove 48 yards to pay dirt as Clark Rexroat scored on an eight-yard run to give Hart County a 7-0 lead.
The Raiders were awarded the ball on an onside kick and increased their advantage as Joshua Dan Crump scored from eight yards out to end the first quarter scoring as Hart County went up 13-0.
A one-yard run by quarterback Keaton Walters increased the Raider lead to 21-0 before the Vikings got their offense clicking.
Community started on its own 35-yard line and needed nine plays to reach the end zone.
The drive was highlighted by two fourth down conversions, with a 44-yard pass from quarterback Dallas Grooms to John Stanley putting the Vikings in the red zone.
Another fourth down conversion pass from Grooms to Maki Fleming set the stage for Fleming to score from one yard out as the Vikings cut the Raider lead to 21-6 with 4:47 left in the second quarter.
The Raiders added another touchdown just one minute later on a 2-yard run by Crump to go up 28-6, but the Vikings bounced back.
A 34-yard pass from Grooms to Fleming was the big play on a five-play, 50-yard drive as the Vikings reached the Raider 6-yard line. After a loss on first down moved Community to the Hart County 10, Grooms connected with Cole Crockett just short of the goal line.
Crockett muscled his way into the end zone for the score as the Vikings narrowed the Raider lead to 28-12 with 1:48 remaining.
The Vikings could not stop the Raider offense in the final two minutes as Walters connected with Jaxson Shoulders on a 9-yard pass as Hart County took a 35-12 lead into the intermission.
After Crump scored on the opening possession of the second half to put the Raiders went up 41-12, the Vikings drove just short of the Hart County goal line but could not score.
A 21-yard pass from Grooms to Tyler Sanders coupled with a 15-yard pass from Grooms to Crockett set up a first-and-goal situation for the Vikings, but Community could only get to the five-yard line as a fourth down conversion attempt failed.
On the next Raider possession, the Vikings appeared to have a big play go their way as Stanley recovered a fumble and ran 91 yards for a touchdown, but a personal foul negated the score.
Hart County added a touchdown on the drive to end the third quarter scoring and a final touchdown late in the fourth quarter.
"Hats off to Hart County. They came out ready to play," Coach Chris Grooms of the Vikings said. “They were excited coming off last week's win that got them in the playoffs."
"It took a little bit trying to get a mindset," Grooms said. "They knew this game didn't get us into the playoffs. It took us a minute to get going."
On the subject of playoffs and with huge implications on the line, Community will host Grundy County in its final regular season game next Friday night at 7 p.m. The winner will advance to the TSSAA Class 3A state playoffs.
"Next Friday starts our playoffs. Either we're in or they're in," Grooms said. "It's the playoffs early for us."
“That's been our number one goal all season."
Community 0 12 0 0 — 12
Hart Co. 13 22 13 6 — 54
First Quarter
HC – Clark Rexroat 8 run, (Jacob Mabe kick), 6:55.
HC – Joshua Dan Crump 8 run, (kick failed), 4:41.
Second Quarter
HC – Keaton Walters 1 run, (Jordan Bradley pass from Rexroat), 9:17.
C – Maki Fleming 1 run, (pass failed), 4:47.
HC – Crump 2 run, (Mabe kick), 3:23.
C – Cole Crockett 10 pass from Dallas Grooms, (run failed), 1:48.
HC – Jaxson Shoulders 9 pass from Walters, (Mabe kick), 0:34.
Third Quarter
HC – Crump 6 run, (kick failed), 8:45.
HC – Bradley 10 run, (Mabe kick), 1:17.
Fourth Quarter
HC – Kameron Asbury 5 run, (run failed), 1:17.
