The 16th-ranked Bowling Green Purples made it look easy Thursday evening at Cougar Field as they ran roughshod past the Cougars 49-13.
The Purples scored on touchdown runs of 55, 33, 22, and 21 yards, and also had a return of a blocked Cougar punt for a score, a 6-yard return of a Cougar fumble, as well as a 62-yard punt return for a TD. The Purples scored four times in the first quarter, prompting the clock to run continuously by the mercy rule.
For the Cougars’ part, they did show the ability to move the ball at times on the Purples’ defense, but managed just one first down in the first half of play.
Against the second-team defense in the second half, the Cougars put up a pair of scores. They moved 70 yards in eight plays, with junior quarterback Cameron Harris scoring from four yards out at the 9:15 mark of the fourth quarter to make it 49-7.
Following a Bowling Green fumble, Grayson County moved 56 yards in 11 plays, with Harris carrying in from a yard out to beat the final buzzer.
The Purples took less than minute to get on the board in the first period. Covering the opening squib kick at the Cougar 46, it took just three plays for them to get on the board. Senior running back Dazhon Blakely scored following a 33-yard carry at the 11:02 mark to make it 7-0
Sophomore Vito Tisdale ran 22 yards for the second score with 9:00 left in the first period, capping a three-play, 64-yard drive.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Cougars found themselves pinned deep in their own territory. When starting quarterback Matthew Haycraft fumbled on second down, senior linebacker Devan Jackson scooped up the loose ball and rumbled into the end zone to make it 21-0.
The Cougars went three-and-out on their next possession and punted the ball away at their own 34-yard line. Sophomore Evan Spader fielded the ball at his own 38 and zig-zagged his was down the field for a 62-yard touchdown return, making it 28-0 with 41 seconds left in the opening period.
As they had done the previous week against Allen County-Scottsville, the Cougar coaching staff agreed to begin running the clock at that point, rather than waiting for the 35 point-deficit mandated by the KHSAA.
The Cougars were forced to punt once more from their own 31-yard line on their next possession and the Purples got in to block the punt. Jackson was again in the right spot at the right time and returned the ball into the end zone to make it 35-0 at the 9:06 mark of the second period.
Following another Cougar punt, the Purples took over at their own 45. On second down there, Tisdale got loose again and raced 55-yards for another score, making it 42-0 with 2:50 remaining in the first half, and that’s how the first half ended.
Grayson County had the ball first at the start of the second half, but once again was forced to punt. Sophomore running back Jayvan Collins capped an eight-play, 49-yard drive with a 21-yard run that made it 49-0 with 3:35 remaining in the third quarter.
Grayson County will have a bye week next Friday with classes out with the Fall Break. The Cougars will be back in action on Friday, October 13 when they travel to Bowling Green to take on the Greenwood Gators in a district contest. That game is scheduled to begin a 7:30 p.m.
By Don Brown
Contact Don at donbrown@k105.com or 270-259-6000
