Instead, they absorbed a disappointing, 12-10 defeat to finish the season at 8-2. The seventh-grade squad also tasted defeat, falling 30-0 to Hancock.
EIGHTH-GRADE GAME
The Cougars were hoping for a better showing than they had at home against Hancock, when five turnovers led to a 22-16 defeat. In this one, the Cougars recovered three Hancock fumbles and scored on a safety, but it was still not enough to overcome a tough Hancock team.
The Cougars took the opening kickoff, but penalties and tackles for losses had them punting on fourth and 26 at their own 16. Hancock took the ball at the Cougar 48 and it took just two plays to put the ball into the end zone. A run for a two-point conversion failed, and with 4:50 left in the first period, Hancock led 6-0.
The Cougars picked up one first down on their next possession, but wound up punting once again. A first-down run gained two yards before Hancock scored again, this time on a 67-yard run. A pass for two failed and with 1:14 left in the first quarter, Hancock led 12-0.
The Cougars had good field position on the ensuing kick, recovering a squib kick at the Hancock 48. Grayson County was able to move the ball to the 22 before the drive stalled and Hancock took over there.
The Cougar defense stiffened forcing a punt on fourth and 13. The snap was over the head of the punter, and though Hancock was able to pick up the ball, the ball carrier was tackled in the end zone for a safety to make it 12-2 with just 49 seconds left in the first half.
Hancock kicked off from their own 20 and Jacob Pierce returned the ball to the Hancock 35 with 37.3 seconds showing on the clock. Two incomplete passes and a three-yard run brought up fourth and seven at the 32 with 13 seconds left.
Quarterback Hunter Gary took the snap in the shotgun formation and faked like he was going to run around the left side. The fake was good enough for the cover men to break off their coverage, allowing Gary to pull up and hit Corey Travis in the end zone for a touchdown. Gary then ran in the two-point conversion to make the score 12-10 with four seconds left in the half.
The second half was a defensive struggle to the end. Dalton Mudd recovered a Hancock fumble on the first possession of the second half, but the Cougars were unable to move the ball and had to punt it away.
Punts were exchanged by the teams on their next possessions and Hancock had the ball at their own 22 as the fourth quarter began. On the first play, Hancock fumbled once again and the Cougars covered it at the 22 with 5:20 remaining. Hancock was flagged for an unsportsmanlike penalty on the play and the ball was moved to the 11-yard line.
Even with that great field position, the Cougars were unable to do anything with it. Facing fourth and four at the five, an incomplete pass gave Hancock the ball.
Incredibly, Hancock fumbled again and the Cougars recovered at the six-yard line with 1:41 left in the game. The Cougars tried throwing on each down, but came up empty each time. On fourth down, Gary was intercepted in the back of the end zone. Instead of taking the touchback, the back tried running it out, risking a safety which would have tied the game. However, he was able to run it back out to the 10, and Hancock ran out the clock to preserve their win.
SEVENTH-GRADE GAME
There was no such suspense in this game as Hancock scored early and often. Facing a fourth and inches at their own 39, the Hancock runner got loose for a 61-yard touchdown run to make it 6-0 at the 4:30 mark.
The Cougars went four and out on their first possession, allowing Hancock to take over at the Cougar 33. Three plays later they were in the end zone again. The Cougars stopped the extra point once more and it was 12-0 with 29 seconds left in the first quarter.
Hancock took over on downs at the 4:23 mark of the second period and quickly scored again, this time from 39 yards out. The extra point attempt failed again, but Hancock led 18-0 with 3:13 left.
Grayson County earned its first first down on its next possession, but wound up punting the ball away. Two pass plays were good for 46 yards and another Hancock County touchdown as time expired in the first half. The Cougars stopped the extra-point attempt for the fourth straight time, but it was still 24-0 at the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, but the Cougars had to punt from deep in their own territory in the fourth quarter and Hancock was in business again at the Cougar 22. From there it took just one running play for the hosts to score one more time. Again the extra-point attempt failed but Hancock led 30-0.
Hancock intercepted a Grayson County pass with 2:34 remaining, then ran out the clock to record the win.
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