Staff writer
LEITCHFIELD - The Cougar football program is certainly no stranger to heartbreak and they got their latest dose last Friday night as visiting Barren County kicked a field goal with 14 seconds remaining to beat the Cougars 17-14.
Both teams scored twice in the first half and went into the intermission locked in a 14-14 tie. The score stayed that way until the closing seconds of the game as the Trojans took advantage of a 20-yard Cougar punt to take the ball close enough for Robert Martinez to hit the game-winning field goal.
Barren County got on the board first, putting together a nine-play, 69-yard drive in the first period. Key plays included a 17-yard pass from quarterback Blake Crabtree to Nick Compton that gave the Trojans a first down in Cougar territory at the 41, and a 21-yard run by Tyler Miller that gave the Trojans a first down at the Cougar nine.
Bo Edwards carried the final nine yards for Barren County and Martinez, playing his first game for the Trojans, added the extra point to put the Trojans on top 7-0 at the 6:17 mark.
Grayson County answered back immediately as junior quarterback Jacob Hicks connected with junior wide-out Wes Carwile on a beautiful pass up the seam of the Trojan defense. The play was good for 68 yards and the first Cougar touchdown. A run for a two-point conversion failed, but the Cougars were just a point back, 7-6, at the 5:25 mark.
Grayson County held on the next Trojan possession and took over at their own 32 at the 3:17 mark of the first period following a Barren County punt. The Cougars then put together a 12-play, 68-yard drive that culminated with another Hicks-to-Carwile hook-up, this one good for 29 yards, that put the Cougars into the lead.
Senior Logan Clemons converted two third-down plays during the drive, carrying for six tough yards on a third and four at the Trojan 49, then carrying nine yards on another third and four at the 36. Freshman Aaron Deviney ran the ball in for a two-pointer and the Cougars led 14-7 with 9:15 left in the first half.
Barren County responded with a long drive of their own. Tyler Jessie returned the ensuing kickoff 15 yards, out to the Trojan 40, to set up a 60-yard scoring drive that tied things at the half. The Trojans used 5:40 and 11 plays to move 60 yards for the score. Crabtree hit Nick Compton with a nine-yard pass for the touchdown. Martinez added the extra point to knot things.
The Cougars forced three turnovers on the night, with two of them coming in the second half, but could not take advantage of any of them.
Barren County took the second-half kickoff and had moved to the Cougar 20 before the defense stiffened. Facing fourth and six at the Cougar 21, Crabtree threw a pass that was picked off by Deron Rudnick. The junior linebacker returned the interception 45 yards to the Trojan 37. Grayson County managed one first-down, but wound up giving up the ball on downs at the 25.
Once more, the Trojans moved the ball into Grayson County territory, but turned it over when Brian Grant recovered at fumble at the Cougar 16.
But once again, the Cougars were unable to move and had to punt from their own 22. Hicks got off his second 43-yard punt of the night, and the Trojans took over at their own 25. Though Barren County was unable to drive for a score, they were able to pin the Cougars deep in their own territory and set up the series of events that led to the winning kick.
Grayson County went three and out and Hicks dropped back to punt for the fourth time in the game. This time, though, his punt carried only 27 yards and gave the Trojans excellent field position at the Cougar 36.
The Cougar defense held one more time and forced Barren to punt the ball away. When the kick went only 18 yards, Grayson County had the ball at its own 22. However, a five-yard loss on second down and a sack of Hicks on third down saw the Cougars facing a fourth and 22 at their own 10 with under four minutes to play.
Needing a big kick to take the ball out of Cougar territory, Hicks instead put the ball off the side of his foot and the wobbly punt went out of bounds at the Cougar 30. The Trojans were able to convert a big fourth and two play with 1:53 left that moved the ball to the 19.
On third and four at the 13, Edwards was separated from the ball, but the Trojans managed to cover the fumble at the 11. Barren came to the line on fourth down and tried unsuccessfully to get the Cougars to jump offside before calling timeout with 18.2 seconds left to play. Martinez then trotted out onto the field and drove his 29-yard dagger into the Cougars' hearts.
Grayson County (2-3, 0-2 in district play) will go on the road next Friday, traveling to Hartford to take on the Ohio County Eagles (1-4, 0-1). That game is scheduled to begin at 7:30 p.m.
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