Knights use big plays to get past Service

It was a big play kind of day for the Colony Knights.

Colony used five scores of 36 yards or more to get past Service 51-34 Friday night at Colony High School during the opening round of ASAA’s Division I playoffs.

“Every play counts,” Colony head coach Robbie Nash said after the win.

Colony quarterback Jack Nash continued his stellar junior season with more than 300 yards of total offense and six total touchdowns,

Nash rushed for 239 yards and four touchdowns, and had 91 yards passing and another two touchdowns.

Nash opened the scoring with a 46-yard touchdown run on Colony’s fourth play of the game. He added touchdown runs of 14, 17 and 81 yards in the second quarter.

Nash connected with Cole Hamilton on a 57-yard touchdown pass in the first, and Jayce Underwood on a 36-yard score in the fourth quarter.

Shayne Holliday also broke free for a 57-yard touchdown run.

With the win, Colony moves ahead to face second-seeded Bartlett Saturday at 3 p.m. in the state semifinals. Bartlett is known for its devastating ground attack on offense.

“They’re going to run it right up the gut and we’re going to be prepared for it,” Robbie Nash said.

Nash said Colony’s ability to put together the big play may help against a team like Bartlett.

“I think that’s big,” he said. “Their offense is designed to just churn out the clock, 3 and 4 yards a carry. Slower tempo than we’ve got. Us having the ability for the breakaway play, breakaway pass, breakaway run is huge for us.”

Colony led 42-8 early in the third quarter, but Service stuck around with 26 second-half points.

“You always say when you get up like that, the second half returns to 0-0,” Nash said. “In football, momentum can change at the drop of a hat.”

Service tossed a pair of touchdown passes in the second half, ran for another and returned a kickoff 99 yards for a score.

Colony improved to 7-2 with the win.

Contact Frontiersman managing editor Jeremiah Bartz at editor@frontiersman.com.