Kelsey Tucker

Sports Editor

   The Flash had hoped for another class 4A state championship bid this season. Unfortunately, the 2011 Lone Oak High School football season has come to an end with no state championship in sight. Despite losing in the 3rd round of playoffs, Lone Oak did finish with an excellent 10-3 record.

    Since Lone Oak won all their district games, the playoffs were held right here at the Graveyard. The first playoff game on November 4 against Breckinridge County was expected to be an easy win. Living up to the predictions, the game ended in a 63-21 victory for the Flash.

    The next week’s matchup was against Owensboro on November 11. Lone Oak had played Owensboro before on September 30, winning 49-22. However, Owensboro had improved as a team before the second round of playoffs. Lone Oak defeated Owensboro 56-19 in an exciting rematch. Quarterback Cole Ousley (10) equaled his career-best for touchdown passes, throwing 7 in this game.

    In the third round of playoffs, Lone Oak was matched up with Franklin-Simpson. In last year’s playoffs, Lone Oak and Franklin-Simpson met in the second round, with Lone Oak barely scraping by in a 35-32 victory. This year, with Franklin-Simpson coming in only having lost one game, it was sure to be a tough one. Lone Oak couldn’t seem to make it happen, sadly losing 20-7.

    Four Purple Flash players have managed to break records this year, despite Lone Oak’s hardest schedule yet. Felix Colón (12) broke former Lone Oak wide receiver Jamarielle Brown’s school record for most receiving yards in a high school career. Brown received a total of 2,921 yards, and Colón topped him with 2,937 yards. Parker Throgmorton (12) broke the school record for most consecutive successful extra point kicks, making 59 the new record. This is also the 7th best consecutive successful extra point kicks made in the state. Ousley set the KHSAA sophomore record with 53 touchdown passes this season, tied for 8th best in the state. Finally, Jared Hill (12) broke the school record for most interceptions in a season with 9 this year.

    Although the season was successful overall, this year’s seniors couldn’t help but feel disappointed as the clock ran out at their final game, signaling the end of their high school career. When looking back on their whole high school career, though, many have seen the bright side. Senior Payton Harris has nothing but postive feelings, saying, “I feel like we did everything we could and the seniors played well for Lone Oak. Not many kids can look back at the four years they played and say they won 46 games and only lost 8. We accomplished a lot and I’m not disappointed at all.” Underclassmen also felt the blow of the season’s end, realizing it’d mean saying goodbye to their beloved seniors. Steven Wooten (11) comments, “It was a great season. We went through a lot as a team but we also came together as a team. I am honored to have played with such a great senior class. I will miss them all, and I wish them luck at college.”

    Many great Lone Oak football memories have been made since Lone Oak’s amazing 2007 season leading them to the first state championship bid in school history. “My most memorable moment,” Harris states, “would have to be playing Madisonville at the Graveyard. I won’t ever forget the memories I made there.” With only one year of Lone Oak football remaining before the McCracken County Schools consolidate, Flash fans expect an extraordinary final season.