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Cody Bertram applied a stiff-arm to an Edmonson County defender as he picked up good yardage on the Cougars’ final touchdown drive. The Cougars earned their sixth shutout of the year and held on to the coveted Tobacco Stick with their 23-0 win over the Wildcats of Edmonson County, finishing the regular season with an 8-2 record.
Before the game, the Cougar fans said farewell to 20 seniors playing the final home game of their careers. Out on the field, the seniors saw to it that the Cougars racked up their sixth shutout of the season to move to an 8-2 record for the year.
The Cougar defense held the Wildcats to just 130 yards of total offense, 116 of which came on the ground. The Wildcats made it into Cougar territory only once on the night. They moved from their own 36 to the Cougar 30 on their first possession of the game, but wound up giving up the ball on downs at the 35.
The Cougar defense has given up an average of just 78.8 yards on the ground this season and just 64.5 yards through the air. The offense has averaged better than 262 yards on the ground and 111 through the air. They averaged 37.7 points per game.
Grayson County had the ball first and made the most of it, driving 82 yards in just four plays. Quarterback Hunter Gary connected with wide receiver Desmond Goldsberry on a 38-yard pass play for the first score of the night to make it 7-0 at the 9:01 mark.
After the Wildcats’ first drive ended the Cougars took over with 3:10 left in the first period. As the second quarter began, the Cougars had a second-and-goal at the two, but an offside penalty and a sack of Gary at the 10 forced the Cougars into a field-goal attempt. Putting the ball down at the 18, Gary put a 28-yarder through the uprights to make it 10-0 with 10:27 left in the half.
Grayson County caught a break on the ensuing kickoff as the Wildcats mishandled the kick and the Cougars recovered at the Wildcat 40. However, the Cougars could not take advantage and gave up the ball on downs at the 42.
The Cougar defense forced a three-and-out and following the Wildcat punt, took over at their own 30-yard line.On first down, senior Dustin Peak ripped off 45 yards, down to the Wildcat 25. The Cougars gained one more first down, but the drive stalled and the Wildcats took over on downs at their own six.
They were able to move out to the 15, but on third-and-one, Ryan Cowles fumbled the ball and by the time Grayson County recovered the bouncing ball, the Cougars were in great shape at the Wildcat six. Three plays later, Gary snuck over from the one with 30 seconds left in the half to make it 17-0.
The Cougars had the ball to start the third quarter and moved from their own 34. down to the Edmonson nine for a first-and-goal. An incomplete pass, then a holding call on the Cougars moved it back to the 21. The Cougars were able to take the ball to the 14, but a fourth-down pass fell incomplete and the Wildcats took over on downs.
Three straight punts followed and the Cougars took over at their own 40 with 5:12 remaining, and they started their final scoring drive of the night. Grayson County had to overcome a pair of penalties, including a holding call that forced them into a second-and-24 situation.
On third down at the Wildcat 34, the Cougars pulled off a gadget play for the touchdown. Wide-receiver Dylan Douthitt took a pitch on a reverse play, then threw up a pass which which was tipped by a pair of Wildcat defenders before Goldsberry gathered it in at about the two and carried in for the score. Gary’s extra-point attempt was blocked, but with 3:08 left in the third quarter, it was 23-0.
The Cougars threatened two more times on the night. Following an interception by Ethan Hinson at the Wildcat 36, the Cougars moved to the nine, but were unable to punch it in and gave up the ball on downs shortly after the start of the fourth quarter.
Sean Tuttle intercepted another Wildcat pass at the 50 and returned it to the Wildcat 45. The Cougars again moved inside the Edmonson 10, but gave up the ball on downs at the 12.
For the second straight year, the Cougars will face Owensboro in the first round of the playoffs. The Red Devils defeated Madisonville-North Hopkins 24-22 on Friday to nail down the number-two spot in their district. As the Devils head into their final game of the season this Friday at Henderson County, their record stands at 6-3,
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