Grayson County closed out its regular season on a very high note last Friday as they shut out Edmonson County 15-0 to take back the Tobacco Stick and finish the season with a 9-1 record.

The Cougars got all they would need on a 22-yard field goal from Hunter Gary and touchdowns from Gary and Aaron Deviney as the defense never allowed the Wildcats to threaten their goal.

Following the game, a little air was removed from the Cougars’ balloon when it was learned that Warren Central had upset Bowling Green, throwing the district race into a possible a three-way tie. Bowling Green still has one remaining district game next week against Barren County, but it is more than likely that instead of hosting a first-round playoff game, the Cougars will have to go on the road.

Regardless, Grayson County has had a season to remember and they were probably at their best on Friday in Brownsville. The Wildcats were able to reach Cougar territory only twice in the game. The first time their drive was halted by a Gary interception, and the second time they gave up the ball on downs at the 35.

While conditions were not ideal after some heavy rain on Thursday night and Friday afternoon, the field was in decent shape because it had not been played upon in three weeks.

Grayson County forced the Wildcats to go three-and-out on their first possession and got great starting field position when senior Jake Clemons returned the ensuing punt to the Wildcat 36. Following a Cougar penalty, Dustin Peak carried to the 20 for a first down, then Gary gained another first down at the 10. The Cougars were able to gain five more yards before the Wildcat defense stiffened and forced the field-goal try. Gary put it through to give Grayson County an early 3-0 lead at the 6:03 mark of the first period.

Neither team could do much after that until the Cougars took over at the Wildcat 43 following a punt with 1:29 left in the first half. On a third-and-five play at the 38, Gary ran to the 23 for a first down, and a Wildcat personal foul on the play moved the ball to the 12.

On second down, Gary carried to the nine, but another Wildcat personal foul moved it to the five. Gary then hit a little swing pass to Deviney around the left side, who went untouched into the end zone for the score with 50 seconds left. Gary’s kick on the extra-point was blocked, but Grayson County took a 9-0 lead into halftime.

The Cougars had the ball to start the second half and put together a long drive. Starting at their own 33, Grayson County overcame a couple of penalties to move the ball into Edmonson territory. They converted three times on third down and gained a first down at the Wildcat 11, but on a second down there, the Cougars fumbled a pitchout and the Wildcats recovered at the three.

The Cougars very nearly scored a safety on first down when Matt Caudill barely escaped the end zone before being thrown back on the tackle. The officials spotted the ball inside the one.

After a quarterback sneak moved the ball to the one, Edmonson County’s Josh Milam tried to throw on third down, but Grayson County cornerback Jacob Pierce intercepted the ball near the 30 and returned it to the Wildcat 15.

Four plays later Gary went in from the two to make it 15-0 with 1:28 left in the third quarter. The Cougars tried a two-point conversion, but it was stopped well short.

The was all the scoring in the game. In the fourth quarter, the Wildcats took advantage of a couple of Grayson County penalties to move to the Cougar 35, but a run for no gain and three straight incomplete passes gave the ball back to the Cougars.

It was all over but the end-of-game celebrations when the Cougars took a victory lap around Wildcat Stadium handing the Tobacco Stick back and forth amongst the seniors.