Published: October 18, 2009 01:22 am      

Dunaway, Horn lead Central past Patriots, 2-0

RICHMOND — Looking at the final score of the 28th District boy’s title game, it would appear that Madison Central dominated Model.

The Indians came away with a 2-0 win Saturday at Madison Central, but Central’s performance was puzzling to coach Jeremiah Duerson, whose team was playing a few sick players — including Micah Hall — and missing Stephen Willoughby, who was out with the flu.

“We were a little on our heels,” Duerson said. “I don’t know if weather is affecting us. We’ve got some guys who are sick and a couple of guys are coughing their heads off. Any time you can play average soccer and get a 2-0 victory, it’s pretty good.”

Central scored off two goals in the first 10 minutes of the game, and the final 70 minutes were a complete stalemate.

Gordo Horn scored less than five minutes into the game off a corner kick from Jeremiah McAlister, and Coy Taylor added the final goal of the game just three minutes after that.

“The first game, we just had a mental breakdown,” Model coach Steve Savage said of his teams’ 6-3 loss to Central in the regular season. “We gave up that first goal extremely early and we didn’t really break down like we did. That was a horrible game for us defensively.”

Horn had several other shots to start the second half, including a free kick that hit the right post and another that hit the crossbar and bounced out, but none found their mark.

“Guys got the ball to him and when you get Gordo in a good spot, he’s going to get a goal or get an assist or put other guys in goal situations,” Duerson said. “Hats off to him and hats off to the guys getting him the ball.”

In the final 15 minutes, Model began pressuring offensively, with standout sophomores Hunter Conner and Josh Arnwine giving Central keeper A.J. Dunaway a flurry of shots to deal with, including one shot that hit the crossbar and another where Conner had an empty net opportunity, but his shot was cleared by Central’s Adam Young.

“A.J.’s been solid for us all year in the back,” Duerson said. “He came up with some real big saves for us. He kept us in the game, really and truly. Model had some opportunities late. He’s played huge. What he’s done this year has really helped us out and made us a better team.”

Central’s Taylor Deaton and Model’s Mike Hughes were both assessed yellow cards for unsporting behavior.

In next Tuesday’s action during the 11th Region Tournament, Model will face off against Lexington Catholic and Central will face Paul Laurence Dunbar. Both games will be at Lexington Catholic.

NOTES: Named to the 28th District all-Tournament team were: Nathan Vaughn (Berea Community); Mathew Bonney and Chris Gill (Estill County); David Enge and A.J. Jeck (Madison Southern); Matt Witt, Josh Arnwine and Hunter Conner (Model) and A.J. Dunaway, Grant McIntosh, Jeremiah McAlister and Gordo Horn (Madison Central)