The Cougar seventh-grade football team scored twice in the second half and held the homestanding Butler County Bears scoreless as they won the Green River Valley Conference semi-final 12-0 on Monday.

The win advanced the Cougar seventh-graders to the GRVC final, which will be held at Grayson County Middle School on Thursday.

The Cougar defense was outstanding all day long, holding the Bears to just 19 total yards for the game. Six times the Cougars threw the Bears for losses totaling 30 yards and Butler County never threatened the Cougar goal.

The first half ended in a 0-0 tie, though the Cougars threatened to score as the half was drawing to a close. After taking over on downs at their own 41, the Cougars moved the ball into Bear territory. On a fourth-and-one at the Bear 21, quarterback Mason Parks carried to the five for a first-and-goal with under a minute to play. But the drive stalled following a bad snap in the shotgun formation and Parks was picked off as the buzzer sounded to end the half.

The Bears had the ball first in the second half, but on their first play from scrimmage, quarterback Zeke Woodcock fumbled the snap and Grayson County’s Lane Rackley covered the ball at the Bear 38.

The Cougars converted two fourth down plays on their first scoring drive, the last coming on a 20-yard completion from Parks to Talon Gary that gave the Cougars a first-and-goal at the five. On the next play, Parks followed a wave of blockers into the end zone to put the Cougars on top. A run on the conversion attempt was stopped, but with 1:05 left in the third quarter, Grayson County led 6-0.

As the fourth quarter began, the Cougars had backed the Bears up to a fourth -and 13 at their own 26, forcing them to punt. But Cougar lineman Travis Sullivan broke through to block the punt and Grayson County covered the ball at the 10.

On first down, Dylan Mahurin just missed a touchdown as he was dragged down at the one. But on second down, Parks fumbled the snap and the Bears jumped on the ball and took over at the one.

That play seemed to energize the Bears and they picked up a big gain on first down, out to the 23. The Cougar defense stiffened once again and with time running out, the Bears were forced to try to go for it on fourth-and-three at the 30. But Trey Sanders broke broke through and tackled the ball carrier for a nine-yard loss and the Cougars took over at the 21.

Grayson County called Sanders’ number on first down, and the diminutive running back took a pitch and skirted the left side for the score that sealed the Cougar win. Sanders ran on the conversion attempt, but was stopped short. Still, with just 3:05 left to play, the Cougars led 12-0.

The Bears were forced to try to gain ground through the air, but on a first down pass play, Dakota Payton picked off a Woodcock pass and the Cougars took over at their own 47.

Butler County held and forced a Cougar punt with just under two minutes to play, but when the Bear returner muffed the punt, the Cougars jumped on the loose ball and took over again with 1:40 left to play.

With the Bears out of timeouts, Parks took knees on three straight snaps to run out the clock and give Grayson County the win.