2011 Photo By Jim Snyder

Tennessee Hands Kentucky 28-18 Loss

By Tim Branstetter

Times Tribune Staff Writer

High school seniors from Southeastern Kentucky and Northeastern Tennessee met at the James H. Taylor II Stadium on the friendly confines of University of the Cumberlands for the fourth annual National Guard Border Bowl.

The Kentucky All-Stars had trouble hanging on to the ball and the Tennessee All-Stars took advantage by picking up four fumbles on their way to a 28-18 victory.

The Kentucky All-Stars out gained the Tennessee All-Stars 289 yards to 141 yards. They also had 17 first downs compared to Tennessee's 10. Tennessee was also penalized 11 times for 85 yards, while Kentucky only had three penalties for 15 yards.

Tennessee's defense scored two touchdowns and the first one came on a Kentucky fumble that was forced by Tennessee's Chas Story. Story recovered the fumble and scored from three yards out and Tennessee took a 7-0 advantage with 14:51 remaining in the second quarter.

Three minutes later Ben Madon answered for Kentucky with a 61-yard touchdown pass to Darrell Cross, but Corbin's Saxon O'Kuma missed the extra point and Kentucky trailed 7-6.

Tennessee completed a seven-play 64-yard scoring drive with just over a minute remaining on a six-yard carry by Walter Barber for a 14-6 lead.

Kentucky gave up two more touchdowns and trailed 28-6 after another fumble turned into Tennessee points with 3:40 remaining in the third quarter.

Kentucky took their offense to the air as several players got involved in the passing game. Holy Cross' Josh Jasper led the way with 81 yards on four catches. Monroe County's Trent Tooley, Glasgow's Tavion Parrish and Whitley County's Cody Bramlett also hauled in a catch for Kentucky.

Knox Central's Travis Canady and Scott Gilliam also got in on the action along with Williamsburg's Cody Perkins.

With 14:00 remaining in the fourth quarter Kentucky decided to make the game interesting by completing a nine-play 56-yard scoring drive with a 34-yard touchdown pass from Jon Combs to Jontez Jones. A two-point conversion would have made it a two-score game, but Combs' pass to John Dudley Hilton fell incomplete.

Kentucky scored again on an eight-yard carry by Chris Kelly with 6:54 remaining in the game, but they failed to convert on the two-point conversion once again and Tennessee held on for a 28-18 win.

Former University of Tennessee coach Phil Fulmer was in attendance and gave his take on why the two teams struggled some on the offensive side of the ball.

"It's hard to put together an offense with such a limited time of practicing together," Fulmer said. "But this is a great opportunity for these kids. Some of them are playing in the last football game of their careers, while others could earn the opportunity to play at the next level. It's a lot of fun to get our here and watch these kids represent their states. I think Andy Croley and the National Guard a great job putting this game together. It takes a lot of people to make this happen."

Rich Prewitt, Committee Member, Adam Sulfridge Whitley County Tourism Director,Former UT Coach Phil Fulmer, and Andy Croley, Border Bowl Chairperson

2011 Photo By Adam Sulfridge

2011 Kentucky All-Star Roster

2011 Photo By Jim Snyder

2011 Tennessee Coaching Staff

Lamar Brown, Morristown West High School, Head Coach

Rusty Bradley, Christian Academy of Knoxville

John Brewster, Oneida High School

Jim Moore, Seymour High School

Alvin Sanders, Morristown West High School

Houston White, Hixson High School

Shawn Witten, Elizabethton High School

Greg Wyant, Siegel High School

2011 Kentucky Coaching Staff

Dudley Hilton, Bell County High School, Head Coach

Dave Campbell, Scott High School

Brian Crawford, Bell County High School

Tom Greer, Bell County High School

Dave Guidugli, Fort Thomas

Shawn Hager, Sheldon Clark High School

Sam Harp, Danville High School

Wayne Mills, Knox Central High School

John Petett, Monroe High School

Byron Smoot, Paul Lawrence Dunbar High School

Our condolences to the J. B. Donahue family.  Coach Donahue from Harlan Independent School was named as a coach for the 2011 Border Bowl, but had to cancel due to a family emergency.