RICHMOND — It would have been very easy to make excuses following a lopsided loss last week at Scott County.

After all, injuries forced the Indians to take the field against one of the best programs in the state without several of their key performers.

And just four plays into the game, senior standout Dominique Hawkins was forced to the sidelines as well.

Those injuries had a big-time impact in the 41-16 loss.

No doubt.

“It’s disheartening knowing that you’ve got some injuries, but there are some things we can do if we just do what we’ve been coached to do,” Madison Central coach Bert Browne said. “Then, we would be in business. There are some things we could have done better, definitely.”

The Indians (2-1) should be healthier this week, definitely.

Hawkins and senior receiver/defensive back Ken-Jah Bosley will be back in the lineup today when Central hits the road to take on another state powerhouse.

The Indians are set to face Lexington Catholic (3-1). Game time is 7:30 p.m.

Senior offensive lineman Tyler McKinley (knee) might also might also play against Catholic.

“(Dominique) is feeling a lot better,” Browne said. “So, hopefully that will continue to get better. We are keeping our fingers crossed.”

Hawkins suffered a bruised thigh in the opening series against Scott County. The senior still had 60 yards on 11 carries, but did not play much on defense.

Bosley did not play at against Scott County. The senior had a heat-related incident  in practice and was held out of the game for medical reasons.

Through the first two games of the season, Bosley was the Indians’ biggest offensive weapon, catching 13 passing for 293 yards and four touchdowns.

“Great players love it when the lights come on,” Browne said of Bosley. “They rise to the occasion and that’s what Ken-Jah has done this year. He’s been so good that some people have taken notice of him.”

Even with the injuries, the short-handed Indians hung tough for most of the first half. Scott County marched right down the field on a 4-play, 49-yard drive on the first possession, but late in the second quarter, Central trailed just 14-3.

The Indians got back within 11 points early in the third quarter (21-10), before a pair of Cardinal touchdowns ended any thought of an upset.

Without Bosley in the lineup, the Indians generated a season-low 247 yards of total offense (151 rushing, 96 passing). Central also struggled on third down against Scott County,    converting only 2-of-12 opportunities.

So far this season on third down, the Indians are just 7-of-24.

Central also lost the turnover battle for the first time this season. Against Scott, the Indians were -2. They were a +4 against Boone County and +2 against Mercer County.

Through the first two games of the season, senior Hunter Stocker had thrown just one interception. The senior had three INTs against Scott County.

Stocker is 27-of-62 for 464 yards and four touchdowns this season.

Tucker Fair and Austin Coyle were also both forced to the sidelines against Scott County, but they are both expected to play against Catholic.

Fair still finished with a team-best 14 tackles against Scott County.

Kyle Bolin is the main weapon in the Lexington Catholic’s pass-oriented offense. The quarterback has thrown for 858 yards (70-of-128) and eight touchdowns, but he’s also the team’s leading rusher (135 yards, four touchdowns).

In a win over Lafayette last month, Bolin had four touchdowns (three rushing, one passing).

“He can move. He can run,” Browne said. “We are going to have to keep him contained. He makes very good decisions with the football. Our front four are going to have to get a good rush on him and squeeze the pocket.”

In last year’s win over Central in Richmond, Bolin threw for 310 yards and four touchdowns, while also rushing for a team-best 54 yard and a touchdown.

Bolin’s top target this season has been David Bouvier. The 5-foot-7 junior wide receiver has 33 receptions through four games for 450 yards and a touchdown.

Bouvier had more than 100 receiving yards in wins over Lafayette and Bell County and last season against Central caught six passes for 100 yards and a touchdown.

“He gets open. He runs good routes,” Browne said. “He’s not a big guy, but he’s a receiver you would love to have on your team.”

Last year’s meeting in Richmond was a battle for most of the first half. After Hawkins scored on a 84-yard pass from Stocker with 5:32 left in the second quarter, the game was tied at 12-12.

The Knights got two TDs in the final minutes of the half and rolled to a 43-18 win.

Lexington Catholic finished with 479 yards of total offense and forced four turnovers.

“With three minutes left in the first half its tied and we give up two touchdowns,” Browne said. “When you do that against real good teams, they take advantage and they get the momentum and start to roll.”

Catholic’s only loss this season came against Ensworth (Tenn.). In three games against in-state competition, the Knights have out-scored their opponents 91-21 and haven’t allowed more than seven points in any game.

“We are probably playing the best quarterback in the state and we’ve got to really control the football and keep the ball out of his hands,” Browne said. “And when we are on defense, we’ve got to do the things we’ve been coached to do. That’s the biggest thing.”

Lexington Catholic has never lost to Central (5-0).