Lawrence County Defeats Garrard County 57-30 in Golden Lion Bowl

The Lawrence County Bulldogs dominated the second half to defeat the Garrard County Golden Lions 57-30 on Friday night in the Golden Lion Bowl at Garrard County High School. The game marked the first-ever meeting between the two programs despite both competing in Class 3A for many years.

The game featured explosive offensive displays from both teams in the first half. Lawrence County struck first with a 41-yard touchdown pass from senior quarterback Luke Fetherolf to Isaac Febish, though they missed the extra point for a 6-0 lead.

Garrard County answered quickly with a 22-yard touchdown pass from Justin Parsons to Gavin Baker, capping off a drive that overcame a 10-yard holding penalty. The extra point gave the Lions a 7-6 advantage.

The back-and-forth continued when Lawrence County's Fetherolf broke free for an 85-yard touchdown run, extending their lead to 14-7 after a successful two-point conversion.

R.J. Blair proved to be the difference-maker for Garrard County throughout the contest. The versatile player kicked a 28-yard field goal, returned an 82-yard kickoff for a touchdown, and added a 12-yard rushing touchdown.

Despite trailing 28-23 at halftime, Lawrence County dominated the second half behind Fetherolf’s exceptional play. The senior quarterback accounted for all six Lawrence County touchdowns - five passing and one rushing.

The Bulldogs' passing attack proved unstoppable, with Featheroff connecting with multiple receivers including Carlo Chico and Gray Derifield. A 91-yard touchdown pass from Fetherolf to Derifield in the third quarter exemplified Lawrence County's big-play capability.

Lawrence County's balanced offense accumulated significant yardage through both rushing and passing. Fetherolf’s mobility and arm strength consistently troubled the Garrard County defense, while running backs Williams, Johnson, and Frazier all contributed key carries.

For Garrard County, Parsons showed poise in the pocket and connected effectively with his receivers. The offensive line, anchored by players like Robert Shults, provided solid protection throughout much of the contest.

Defensively, Garrard County's Syler Skeens was a consistent presence around the football.

The loss drops Garrard County to 1-1 on the season following their week one victory over North Bullitt.

Lawrence County improves to 2-0 and appears poised for a strong Class 3A playoff run based on their offensive firepower and playmaking ability.

The Golden Lion Bowl format featured Lincoln County defeating Estill County 12-10 in the opening game, with both contests providing entertaining football action for the large crowd in attendance.

Garrard County will look to bounce back next week when they host Middlesboro at 7:00 p.m., returning to a more traditional kickoff time after the extended evening that saw this contest conclude well past 11 p.m.