Conner 39, Scott 32

CINCINNATI - When they talk about great quarterbacks they always seemed to be associated with their own version “The Drive.” Friday night Conner (7-2, 3-1) quarterback Drew Barker wrote his own legendary chapter entitled “The Quarter.”

In a nine-and-a-half-minute span during the final stanza, the junior threw touchdown passes of 52 and 60 yards. Then he ran for the game-winning score from 12 yards out with 1:26 left in the contest to take down Scott (4-5, 1-3), 39-32. The victory keeps the Cougars hopes alive for a #1 seed in the Class 5A playoffs in Kentucky.

The Eagles weren’t going to back down on Senior Night as the program was on a quest for five wins for the first time since 1990. Scott had the Conner defense with their “Victory” formation on offense. They grabbed a 24-17 lead on a short run by fullback Dylan De Tetta with 2:28 left in the third quarter. The fourth began with Scott looking like they were going to pull the upset.

Barker went to work finding Andrew Way, who finished off a nifty pitch-and-catch run for a 52-yard touchdown. The extra point was blocked leaving Conner down 24-23 with 10:41 left in the affair. The Cougars held and with 5:12 left Barker connected down the right side line with Brady Padget who crossed the goal line on a 60-yard collaboration. A two-point conversion made it 31-24 Cougars

Scott roared right back, The Eagles scored and converted a two-point conversion with 3:17 left to take a 32-31 lead. Then Barker used his legs to rip off a couple of big runs. The last was that 12-yard scamper for the game’s final score. With no timeouts left Scott marched the ball all the way down the field, but time ran out on their plans for grandeur inside the Conner 10- yard line.

Barker finished the night by throwing for 169 yards and three scores and added 133 rushing yards on 13 carries. Playing without star running back Cameron Fogle, the Cougars turned to Cameron Way, who tally 80 yards on the ground to go with his 49-yard receiving touchdown.

A confident Conner squad will try to nab that victory over Covington Catholic (7-2). Scott will be the visiting team on their home field as they play Bishop Brossart (1-8, 0-4) in a home game for the Mustangs who have lost eight in a row.