Following Boone County’s 49-12 district win against Campbell County Friday at Owen Hauck Stadium in Florence, Rebels head coach Rick Thompson hurried his players into the locker room so they could enjoy the final couple hours of their homecoming dance.
Running back Charles Quainoo, however, took his time.
“I’m not going to do too much dancing,” said Quainoo in his mud-covered No. 24 jersey.
The 16-year old senior had showed off more than enough moves the previous two-and-a-half hours to run for 251 yards and three touchdowns on 34 carries.
Quainoo’s effort helped the Rebels pile up 432 yards of offense despite completing just one of three passes for 10 yards, and more importantly, open district play with a win.
“Any time you win in this district, it’s a good win,” Thompson said.
The Camels featured a more balanced offense than the Rebels, rushing for 101 yards and passing for 171 despite missing leading rusher and receiver Austin Johnson, who was out with a high ankle sprain.
“With the weather conditions, for some reason we had more trouble throwing than they did,” Thompson said.
It was evident early on Boone County wouldn’t need to pass much on the rain-soaked field. The Rebels went 50 yards for a touchdown in six runs on the opening possession of the game. Quainoo accounted for five of those runs, including a 21-yard touchdown run less than three minutes into the game.
After forcing the only punt of the first half on Campbell County’s first possession, Quainoo served as a decoy as senior quarterback Nate Alford faked a handoff before bolting 45 yards downfield for a touchdown.
Both Alford and junior running back Jordan Oppenheimer were able to make big plays when Quainoo didn’t get the ball. Alford scored two touchdowns on just three carries, rushing for 66 yards, and Oppenheimer had 10 carries for 91 yards and two scores.
“Oppenheimer did a great job today,” Quainoo said. “Everybody usually reads me, but when he gets the ball he does something with it. He’s doing good at blocking too.”
Campbell County managed two touchdowns in the second quarter on a pair of passes from Michael Kremer to Danny Glasgow, but missed the extra point each time. Meanwhile, Quainoo and Oppenheimer added their second touchdowns of the game to extend Boone County’s halftime lead to 16, 28-12.
Boone County capitalized on Campbell County mistakes to pull away in the second half. A sack by senior defensive end Adam Sunderhaus on fourth-and-four at midfield led to a 20-yard touchdown run by Alford; a fumble recovery by senior linebacker Jake Deason led to a three-yard touchdown run by Quainoo; and an interception by junior defensive back Cody Loudon led to a 3-yard touchdown run for Oppenheimer.
Those touchdowns helped ensure the Rebels would end their three-game losing streak that consisted of losses to top teams in Scott County, Cincinnati Anderson, and Highlands. Quainoo even credited that stretch with preparing them for Friday’s district game.
“Coach set up those games so we’d get better, and, from what we did today, it looked like it worked.”CAMPBELL CO. 0-12-0-0—12
at BOONE CO. 14-14-14-7—49
BC-Quainoo 21 run (Palmateer kick)
BC-Alford 45 run (Palmateer kick)
CC-Glasgow 12 pass from Kremer (run failed)
BC-Quainoo 1 run (Palmateer kick)
CC-Glasgow 15 pass from Kremer (pass failed)
BC-Oppenheimer 19 run (Palmateer kick)
BC-Alford 20 run (Palmateer kick)
BC-Quainoo 3 run (Palmateer kick)
BC-Oppenheimer 3 run (Palmateer kick)
RECORDS: Boone County 2-3, 1-0 Class 6A; Campbell County 2-3, 0-1.
