ASHLAND — You may have read Mike Fields’ story in the Lexington Herald-Leader earlier this week about the metamorphosis from mascot to quarterback hero of Paul Laurence Dunbar junior Trent Bauer.

Well, we have an Ashland connection.

Bauer’s parents are Joe and Beverly Bauer, originally from Ashland, and he is the grandson of Marvin and Sherry Childers of Ashland. He also has some other relatives here, including an aunt.

If you didn’t read the story, here’s a quick synopsis.

Trent Bauer started out this season as the Bulldogs’ mascot after suiting up as the Bulldog last winter for the the girls’ basketball team that advanced to the State Tournament in Bowling Green. He was so good as the mascot, his grandfather said, that folks at WKU were inquiring if he was a senior.

“They said, ‘He’s a good one. We’d like to have him,’” Childers said. “He’s just a good kid who does everything he’s supposed to do. He’s one of those kids who have never met a stranger. He’s friends with everybody.”

Bauer, who hadn't played organized football since he was 10 years old, wanted to play again, so he went to see Dunbar coach Derrick Thomas after the season opener. He practiced in pads for 10 days before becoming eligible to play and made a couple of strong showings in JV games when Thomas decided to put him on the varsity team.

The results were remarkable.

The 5-foot-9, 145-pound Bauer got his first varsity action against Bryan Station in the closing minutes and threw TDs to Taylor Smith and Thompson in a 42-17 loss.

That’s when Thomas decided to start Bauer against Henry Clay.

Those results were even more remarkable.

Bauer threw a pair of fourth-quarter touchdowns to rally Dunbar to a 22-19 upset victory over the Blue Devils.

The game-winner was a 50-yard connection from Bauer to Emory Thompson, who was the quarterback before him, with only eight seconds remaining. It ended a five-year, 20-game losing streak in the city and an 11-game losing streak to Henry Clay.

Thompson said of Bauer after the game, “That was a perfect pass.” Childers said he was impressed with Thompson’s attitude considering Bauer took his job as quarterback.

“I really admire that kid he replaced. The kids kind of accepted him,” Childers said. “He played a good game. There were some other balls that should have been caught. Of course, that’s a grandfather talking.”

Marvin and Beverly were at the game and they also watched Trent’s brother, Brandon, play in a middle school game for Beaumont. Trent plays basketball and football for Dunbar but not baseball, which was his grandfather’s love. Marvin Childers is considered one of the greatest Little League coaches in Ashland history.

“He quit playing baseball when he was 10,” Childers said. “That Cal Ripken League baseball, I can’t stand it.”

His grandfather said Dunbar’s cheerleaders and fans savored the victory last Thursday. They even sang the alma mater to the crowd.

Tonight the Bulldogs play undefeated Scott County in a Class 6A district game. “I hope they block for him this week, he’s liable to get killed,” his grandfather said.

After the football season, Bauer told Fields he plans on returning to being a mascot.

You can read the entire story about the Dunbar-Henry Clay game on Kentucky.com. I recommend it.

Here comes Tide

Kentucky’s 2013 football schedule has been released and it includes an Oct. 12 date with powerhouse Alabama in Lexington.

Isn’t that some good news?

Non-conference games will be Western Kentucky, Miami of Ohio, Louisville and Alabama State.

The Cats play all the SEC East Division teams and Alabama and Mississippi State from the SEC West.

East the beast?

East Carter’s middle school seventh-grade football team had a 7-1 season, won the conference championship and is playing in the second round of the middle school seventh-grade tournament in Pulaski County on Saturday.

The team’s only loss was to Fleming County, which they later avenged.

So hang on Raiders, it looks like help is on the way.

Morehead on ESPNU

Morehead State’s basketball game with Tennessee State on Feb. 28 will be televised live on ESPNU from the Gentry Center in Nashville at 7 p.m.

The nationally televised contest will feature two of last year’s top three Ohio Valley Conference squads. It is one of 10 league games on the ESPN Family of Networks during the 2012-13 season.

MSU will host Morehead Hysteria at Johnson Arena on Thursday at 7 p.m.

MSU opens exhibition play at home on Nov. 3 against St. Catharine (Ky.). The Eagles begin the regular season under new coach Sean Woods on Nov. 9 against LIU Brooklyn at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, N.Y.

MARK MAYNARD can

be reached at mmaynard@dailyindependent.com or

(606) 326-2648.