COLE CAMP — After Cole Camp football built a two-possession lead in the first half, senior Blake Abey made sure Crest Ridge never found a way back into the game.
Abey recorded a pair of pick sixes in the second half to propel the Bluebirds to a 27-6 homecoming victory on Friday, Oct. 2, at Cole Camp High School.
“We were kind of low there for a second, and then the first one really got us going,” Abey said. “Then, that second one made us think we got some of that edge. It made us think they weren’t coming back at all.”
Cole Camp (3-3, 2-0 West Central Missouri Conference) manufactured its first-half scoring entirely in the second quarter, with sophomore Jarrett Phillips finding the end zone on a 2-yard run before connecting with senior Kolton Phillips for an 18-yard touchdown.
Trailing 14-0, Crest Ridge (2-4, 0-1 WCMO) forced a Cole Camp turnover on downs to open the third quarter. The Cougars then drove the ball down to the Bluebird 25-yard line on their ensuing possession.
On a fourth-and-13, sophomore Wyatt Brant threw a pass toward the end zone, but Abey picked it off and returned it 94 yards for the touchdown.
“We’ve been watching film all week and [studying] their route combinations and everything,” Abey said. “We were in a position that was able to let me make a play. I just saw the ball in the air and was like, ‘Oh, I got to get that,’ and then I saw a gap open up and took it.”
The Cougars cut their deficit to 21-6 via a 4-yard touchdown run from junior Colton DeMoss on their next possession.
Following a Cole Camp punt, Crest Ridge took over at its own 22-yard line.
Facing another fourth down, Brant threw the ball late over the middle, allowing Abey to step in front and return it 43 yards for the touchdown.
“He stopped his route early, and I just cut it off in front of him and took it all the way,” Abey, who was crowned homecoming king before the game, said.
The second pick six increased Cole Camp’s lead to 27-6 with 8:46 remaining in the game.
Cole Camp head coach Kevin Shearer said Abey’s pick sixes allowed him to change his play-calling approach to close out the win offensively.
“They allow us to coach differently,” Shearer said. “You limit your playbook. You be conservative with the football. We’re not going to try and score 50, you know, I know some guys at that lead put the pedal down. That ain’t going to be what the Bluebirds do.”
After a Cougars punt, the Bluebirds got the ball back and ran out the remaining six minutes and 20 seconds to secure their third win in a row after an 0-3 start.
“We had a great year last year,” Shearer said. “We lost a bunch. I think it was 10, 11, 12 seniors, so we had a lot to replace. It took us a little bit [of time to get things going this year]. Crawling back to .500, I’m super proud of them. That takes resilience and that is hard.”
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A Cole Camp football player is wrapped up by a Crest Ridge player during a game on Friday, Oct. 2, at Cole Camp High School.
A Cole Camp defensive lineman makes a tackle during a game against Crest Ridge on Friday, Oct. 2, at Cole Camp High School.
Cole Camp junior Braedyn Snell leaps to make a catch during a game against Crest Ridge on Friday, Oct. 2, at Cole Camp High School.
Cole Camp senior Kolton Phillips carries the ball during a game against Crest Ridge on Friday, Oct. 2, at Cole Camp High School.
Cole Camp freshman Cooper Howard chases a ball carrier during a game against Crest Ridge on Friday, Oct. 2, at Cole Camp High School.
The win is also Cole Camp’s first against Crest Ridge since 2022.
The Bluebirds host Missouri Military Academy on Friday, Oct. 9, before visiting Windsor on Oct. 16.
AREA SCOREBOARD
Tipton 72, Harrisburg 6
Windsor 36, Lone Jack 6
Keytesville 38, Lincoln 8-man 26
CMAC SCOREBOARD
Smith-Cotton 39, Battle 0
Helias Catholic 42, Capital City 0
Hickman 49, Jefferson City 14
Rock Bridge 24, Camdenton 14
Sports editor Jack Denebeim can be reached at 660-530-0142.
