Today's Sports

Anderson County was not going to let this one slip through its hands.

The Bearcats scored with 3:02 to play, then intercepted two Franklin County passes in the final three minutes to defeat the Flyers, 31-28, in the Class 5A, Region 3 football championship game Friday night on a muddy field at Anderson County's Hollie Warford Stadium.

The game-winner came when Zachary Carmichael sneaked into the end zone from two yards out. Carmichael then hit Ross Cox for the two-point conversion to set the final score.

We're at third and long. That's the third round of the state high school football playoff season and a long way to go to get to the fourth step of a five-step journey to a state championship.

Friday night, it's for all the regional marbles. It is probably the most anticipated game at Anderson since the Bearcats hosted Southwestern in the 2011 state semi-finals. That one came after the Bearcats had defeated Conner for the regional title.

The media contingent that descended on Anderson County Friday night was a bit more than usual, even for a playoff football game.

The reason, of course, was a chance to see Conner quarterback Drew Barker, who has committed to the University of Kentucky and is considered one of the Top 10 quarterback prospects in the nation.

Anderson's defense pressured Barker enough that he completed just 6-of-23 passes. However, several on-the-mark passes fell through his receivers' hands.

The annual Cat Madness tips off the Anderson County High School basketball season Saturday with the Bearcats hosting Central Hardin in a scrimmage to cap off the evening at approximately 7:40 p.m.

The event gets under way at 1 p.m. with the Anderson County Middle School teams taking on Henry County in the auxiliary gym at the high school.

“This is a community event to see all of the basketball teams,” Anderson County boys' coach Glen Drury said.