Golden Bears win hard-fought game

LEXINGTON - Lexington trailed at halftime, but scored 27 unanswered points in the second half en route to a 41-26 win over Central.

Central (6-4) led 19-14 at the half and looked to be in control after stopping Lexington on a third-and-goal play from the one-foot-line as time expired.

Lexington (9-1) forced a punt on the first possession of the second half, and the Golden Bears drove 66 yards in eight plays to take a 21-19 lead. Klint McCafferty got the touchdown on a 1-yard run.

Tyler Stewart's fumble recovery set up Lexington's next score. Will Shirley outjumped two defenders to haul in a 28-yard TD pass from Kenny Ratliff for a 27-19 lead.

"I am so proud of the way our guys responded to adversity tonight," Lexington head coach Rickie Putman said. "With the way the first half ended, it would have been easy for our guys to give up. Coach (Randy) Ratliff, our defensive coordinator, made some great adjustments at halftime and our seniors really stepped up."

McCafferty scored on an 8-yard run and Tyler Duke added a 10-yard run in the fourth quarter as Lexington took a 41-19 lead.

McCafferty also scored on a 2-yard run in the first half.

Duke finished with 127 yards rushing on 23 carries and also caught a 19-yard TD pass from Ratliff in the first quarter.

Darian Howell scored two touchdowns for Central, a 9-yard run in the first quarter and a 3-yard run in the fourth quarter.

Javirus Carr led the Wildcats with 111 yards on 15 carries that included a 53-yard touchdown run.

Central quarterback Sloan Dickerson connected with Nick Brewer on a 30-yard touchdown late in the first half.

"It was a hard-fought game, and my hat's off to Lexington," Central head coach Brent Palmer said.

"We just have to regroup. We have a big game next week against Plainview."

Lexington will host Cleveland in its first-round playoff game.