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Grayson County came in as one of the top-ranked defensive teams in 5-A football through five games, but they had not played anyone of the caliber of Bowling Green and it showed.
Running out of a no-huddle, hurry-up offense on their first possession, the Purples drove 62 yards in less than three minutes to take a 7-0 lead and the game was never that close again. Quarterback J. P. Jackson had several scrambles for big yardage during the drive, but it was his 25-yard pass to all-purpose back Tevin Barksdale that accounted for the touchdown.
Barksdale had a big night for the Purples, scoring four times, twice on runs and twice receiving balls from Jackson.
The Cougars went three and out on their first possession and punted the ball away, with the Purples taking over at the Grayson County 41. Three plays later, Barksdale took a direct snap and carried 17-yards into the end zone. Zach Williams’ kick on the extra point sailed wide to leave it at 13-0 at the 6:51 mark.
Grayson County took over at the 18 and tried to go to the air against the Purple defense, but on third-and-four, Hunter Gary’s pass, intended for Dustin Thomas, was picked off by Tyreon Clark and the cornerback raced 30 yards for another Bowling Green score. A bad snap caused the kick to fail, but with 5:20 left in the first quarter, the Purples were in command 19-0.
Grayson County then showed they were not intimidated by the mighty Purples, putting together a gutsy 79-yard drive for a score. It proved not to be a fluke as the Cougars were able to move the ball all night against Bowling Green’s defense, they just weren’t always able to cash in on their opportunities.
Taking over at their own 21, two running plays moved the ball to a first down at the 34. On third-and-nine, Gary completed a pass to Thomas for another first down at the Bowling Green 40.
The Cougars then kept the ball on the ground, moving inside the five, where they faced a fourth and one at the five. Grayson County then got the Purples to jump off side and the ball was moved inside the three for a first down. On the next play, Aaron Deviney carried in for the Cougar touchdown. Gary’s kick was no good and with just 12 seconds left in the first quarter, it was 19-6.
The Purples then went back to work on offense, moving 54 yards in nine plays for another score. Barksdale carried in from two yards out and Williams converted the extra-point to make it 26-6 with 9:01 left in the first half.
Grayson County again had success, moving from their own 15 into Bowling Green territory before the drive stalled at the Purple 37. Gary’s punt was downed at the four, putting the Purples in a hole.
Bowling Green was able to move the ball away from its own goal, but the Cougars held, forcing a punt at the Purple 40.
With the chance to make it a little closer with a long drive for a score, the Cougars were disappointed when another Gary pass was intercepted and returned for an apparent touchdown. However, the Purples were flagged for an illegal block on the run-back and the ball was brought back to the 33.
But all it took from there was two pass plays to Barksdale, one for 12 yards and the final one for 21 and the Purples were in the end zone again. Williams added the extra point and with 3:18 left to play in the half, it was 33-6.
The Cougars got another good offensive push on the last possession of their first half, moving from their own 26 to the Purple 48 before stalling and punting again.
With just 40 seconds left in the half and leading by 27 points, it was thought the Purples would just run out the clock, but evidently they don’t thing that way. They began passing and using their timeouts, trying to put another score on the board. They were able to penetrate to the Cougar 40 before time finally ran out.
As play began in the second half, Gary was picked off for the third time, but the Cougar defense was able to hold and Grayson County got the ball back on a fumble at their own 18.
The Cougars then put together a beautiful, long drive, moving 80 yards to a first-and-goal at the two before things began going backwards. Penalties and sacks moved the ball back to a fourth-and goal at the 24, where the Purples took over on downs following an incomplete pass.
But just as the third quarter ended, the Purples messed up a pitch play and the Cougars’ Shane Goff recovered the loose ball at the nine, setting up another Cougar first-and-goal. But three plays only advanced the ball one yard, and Gary came on to try a 26-yard field goal.
The Purples broke through to block the attempt and picked up the loose ball, returning it for what should have been another touchdown, but one of the officials incorrectly blew his whistle on the play and the Purples were awarded the ball at the 20.
Barksdale got loose on first down and appeared to be on his was to another score, but Deviney ran him down and tackled him at the 12. Three plays later Dillon Carver carried in from the one to make it 40-6.
Carver later added a 36-yard run for a touchdown with 2:37 left to play to make the final score 47-6.
The Cougars (3-3, 1-1 District) will be on the road next week, making a long trip south to take on Ciinton County in Albany. The Bulldogs stood at 1-4 heading into Friday’s contest against Berea. The game is scheduled to start at 7 p.m. central time.
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