Defense carries Frederick Douglass past Bowling Green in Class 5A football final
LEXINGTON, Ky. — Showcasing its stingy defense, the Frederick Douglass High School football team captured its first state championship Saturday night.
The Broncos’ defense surrendered just 7 yards of offense in the second half to secure a 28-7 victory over Bowling Green in the Class 5A championship.
A crowd of 6,461 at the University of Kentucky’s Kroger Field saw Frederick Douglass (15-0) capture its first state title in its sixth season of play after opening in 2017. The Broncos were state runners-up in 2019 and 2021.
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Bowling Green (12-3) had 275 yards of offense in the first half and tied the score at 7 on Deuce Bailey’s 12-yard touchdown pass to Javen Huddleston with 6:18 left in the second quarter.
But Frederick Douglass dominated the second half, limiting Bowling Green to 7 yards (6 rushing, 1 passing). The Broncos ranked No. 1 in the state in scoring defense this season, allowing just 5.0 points per game.
Broncos quarterback Cole Carpenter completed 13 of 17 passes for 149 yards and three touchdowns, one each to Cameron Dunn (six catches, 24 yards), Tylon Webb (three catches, 94 yards) and Thomas Howard (two catches, 24 yards).
T.J. Horton led Frederick Douglass’ rushing attack with 108 yards on 15 carries.
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Bowling Green’s Bailey completed 16 of 36 passes for 205 yards and a touchdown and was intercepted twice. He also rushed for 49 yards on nine carries.
Jason Frakes: 502-582-4046; jfrakes@courier-journal.com; Twitter: @kyhighs.
Bowling Green 0 7 0 0 – 7
Frederick Douglass 0 7 7 14 – 28
Second quarter
FD – Tylon Webb 37 pass from Cole Carpenter (Cooper Ranvier kick)
BG – Javen Huddleston 12 pass from Deuce Bailey (Colin Fratus kick)
Third quarter
FD – Ty Bryant 1 run (Ranvier kick)
Fourth quarter
FD – Thomas Howard 21 pass from Carpenter (Ranvier kick)
FD – Cameron Dunn 26 pass from Carpenter (Ranvier kick)
This article originally appeared on Louisville Courier Journal: Defense carries Frederick Douglass past Bowling Green in Class 5A final
