Grayson County’s Cougar football team continued its winning ways last Friday night as they came through with a 21-13 victory over visiting district rival Warren Central on Senior Night.

For the second straight week, the Cougars (8-1, 2-1 District) had to overcome horrible field conditions to beat the Dragons (5-3, 1-1 District). Steady rains during the weeks before the game, along with the girls 7th District soccer tournament being played there, left Cougar Field soupy. By the end of the game, it was difficult to tell who was who as numbers were obscured by mud.

Despite the conditions, there were three touchdowns scored in the first quarter.

Warren Central got on the board first as they broke a long run on their second play from scrimmage. On second-and-11 from his own 37-yard line, running back Cortez Barber took a handoff from quarterback Troy Halcomb and swept the right side. Barber was able to get to the sideline where he found an open field in front of him and he took it all the way for the score. Sergio Beltransosa added the extra-point and with just 1:04 run off the clock, the Dragons were celebrating a 7-0 lead.

In the past, that quick strike would have been enough to have the Cougars’ heads hanging, but this group of Cougars is anything but typical. After the ensuing kickoff went out of bounds, Grayson County took over at their own 35 and began the task of getting even.

Eight plays had moved the ball to the Dragon 37, where the Cougars faced a fourth-and-six. Head coach Ed Smart decided to go for it and offensive coordinator Chris Seabolt called an option play. Quarterback Hunter Gary brought the ball around the right side and pitched it to Aaron Deviney, who carried to the 31 and a Cougar first down.

Cody Bertram then took the ball to the 28 before Gary got loose over the middle, cut to his right and raced in for the Cougars’ first touchdown. Gary added the kicked extra-point and with 6:21 left in the first period, the score was tied at 7-7.

On their next possession, the Dragons hurt themselves with a couple of penalties and found themselves facing a fourth-and-18 situation at their own 32. They then really hurt themselves when the punt snap sailed over the head of their punter. Dustin Thomas was able to get a hand on the punt and the Cougars covered the ball at the Dragon 12-yard line.

Following a four-yard loss on first down, Gary took the ball untouched 16-yards for the go-ahead score. Gary added the extra-point to make it 14-7 with 2:31 left in the first period.

The score stayed that way, with both teams slugging it out in the middle of the muddy field until late in the fourth quarter. A fumble for a loss and a pair of quarterback sacks left the Dragons in a huge hole, facing a fourth-and-22 at their own 12-yard line. A 25-yard punt gave the Cougars excellent field position, at the Dragon 37, and they went to work to give themselves some breathing room.

Deviney carried for five yards on third-and-five to give the Cougars a first down at the 27. On second down, Deviney again carried, gaining 23 yards to the Dragon two. On first down there, junior Dustin Peak took a handoff and bored his way under the pile to score again for the Cougars. Gary added another extra-point, and with just 3:54 left in the game, Grayson County led 21-7.

The Dragons then went into desperation mode, throwing on every down. Halcomb was sacked on first down, bringing up a second-and-18, but he was then able to hit a receiver with a pass that covered 43 yards, down to the Cougar 39. The receiver, whose number was obscured by mud, juggled the ball a couple of times before finally hauling it in.

The Dragons were then able to take the ball the rest of the way. Assisted by a couple of offside calls on the Cougars, they scored with just five seconds left in the game when Halcomb snuck over from the one. The Cougars stopped a two-point try to make the final score 21-13.

Grayson County will close out the regular season this coming Friday as they travel to Brownsville to do battle with the Edmonson County Wildcats in the annual Tobacco Bowl contest. The Wildcats are 5-3 coming off a 27-0 win at Hart County last week. Game time is set for 7 p.m.