TO THE NEXT ROUND: Pulaski dominates in opening round of state playoffs

SOMERSET — It was a mismatch of epic proportions on Friday as the Pulaski County Maroons welcomed in the winless Montgomery County Indians for the first round of the KHSAA Class 5A Playoffs. Just as soon as the game begun, it was essentially over as the Maroons ran back the opening kickoff and didn’t look back, eventually winning the game by a final score of 63-13. Kasen Brock immediately returned the opening kickoff of the game for a quick 7-0 lead for the Maroons. After a quick Montgomery County drive, Brock scored once more, this time on a rushing attempt, to give Pulaski a 14-0 lead with just about three minutes off the clock in the first. Winston Ford got his name in the score book on the next Pulaski drive, with the junior running back breaking multiple tackles on the way to the end zone for a 21-0 lead. Brock got a hat trick with his third score of the night just about a minute later, scoring from 54 yards out for a 28-0 lead. The running clock would be activated shortly thereafter, as Kal Ridner found Ford for a long touchdown down the sideline to make it 35-0 in favor of the home team at the end of the first period. There was just one score in the second quarter, as Will Adams hauled in a pass from Ridner and ran into the end zone to give Pulaski a 42-0 lead at the break. The junior varsity players on the team got some good minutes in the second half, but it was Montgomery County that broke their scoreless drought with a kickoff return from senior Austin Hatton to begin the half. Connor Lewis kept it himself late in the third quarter for a touchdown, giving the Maroons a 48-6 lead heading into the final quarter. Senior Braylon Nester had a rushing score to give the Indians another touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but the home team wouldn’t be shut out in the period. Andrew Ritchie had a rushing score with about six minutes left, and after a two-point conversion by Caleb Bryson the score was 56-13. Pulaski had their last score of the contest on a 63-yard rush by Kayden Simpson to give them their final margin of victory of 63-13. Head coach Josh Roberts noted it was another quality performance despite an overwhelmed opponent. “We have to prepare for more competition. It’s been a struggle to put a full game together because of our leads at halftime over the past few weeks. Our offensive line was making massive holes for our run game and that led us to getting ahead by so much once again,” he stated. Ridner finished 4-5 for 61 yards with two touchdowns, while Lewis finished a perfect 5-5 for 86 yards. Brock had 117 yards on five attempts on the ground with two touchdowns. Everest Whitaker led the receiving corps with 63 yards on three receptions. Wyatt Fenison finished a perfect 6-6 on PAT’s. Cohen Finley led the defense on a big night with 10 tackles and two sacks. Pulaski improves to 11-0 and will move on to round two of the state playoffs, where they will host South Laurel this Friday. Kick is slated for 7 p.m.