The Cougar football team made its 2018 home opener a successful one last Friday evening with a satisfying, 14-6 victory over the visiting Hancock County Hornets.
In last year’s disappointing 33-14 loss to the Hornets, the Cougars turned the ball over five times. This time around the Cougars were flawless in handling the ball and, in a reversal from last year, forced the Hornets into four turnovers, three fumble recoveries and an interception.
The Cougar defense, which looked quite porous in its scrimmage game at Hart County, was very nearly perfect against the Hornets. They allowed just 73 yards on the ground and 59 yards through the air, 58 of which came on one big, third-quarter play.
On the home side, the Cougars racked up nearly 300 yards of total offense, including 266 yards on the ground. Senior running back Derrick Ruth had a huge night for the Cougars, carrying 35 times for 200 yards and both Cougar touchdowns.
The Cougars got the first break of the game when the Hornets fumbled the ball on their first possession. Andrew Haycraft recovered the loose ball and the Cougars were in business at the Hancock 45-yard line. Grayson County was able to move into Hornet territory, but the drive stalled, with Hancock taking the ball back on downs at their own 24.
The two teams then settled into a defensive struggle that lasted the rest of the first half, which saw the two team head to their respective locker rooms tied at 0-0.
Grayson County had the ball to start the second half, and whatever adjustments head coach Ed Smart and his assistants installed began paying dividends immediately. The Cougars began ripping off big chunks of yardage on the ground.
The Cougars moved down to the Hornet 18 where a third-and-nine run by Ruth seemed to have given the Cougars a first-and-goal at the four, but a penalty moved the ball back to the 30-yard line.
That seemed to take the starch out of the momentum and the Cougars wound up giving up the ball on downs at the Hancock 11-yard line.
Facing a third-and-nine at the 12, Hornet quarterback Darian Clay hit a streaking receiver, Caleb Pate, with a perfectly thrown ball over the middle. Fifty-eight yards later, safety Jacob Kerr hauled Pate down at the Cougar 30-yard line.
Two plays later, running back A. J. Newton ran 27 yards for the first score of the game. A bad snap on the conversion attempt allowed the Cougars to block the kick, but the Hornets led 6-0 at the 4:38 mark of the third period.
The two teams then traded punts, with the Cougars taking over at their own 34-yard line with less than a minute to play in the third period.
As the fourth quarter began, the Cougars faced a third-and-five at their own 39-yard line. Ruth took the ball and ran through a huge hole on the right side, finding clear sailing down the Cougar sideline and he carried it 61 yards for the Cougars’ first score.
On the crucial extra-point try, Cougar kicker Mason Miller ripped a low line drive that couldn’t have cleared the crossbar by more than an inch or two, but it was good enough to give the Cougars their first lead of the season, 7-6 with 11:45 left to play.
On second down of the next Hornet possession, Kerr met running back Blaze Nalley at the line of scrimmage and separated him from the ball. Senior Ryan Coates picked up the loose ball and returned it to the Hancock 44, and the Cougars were in business once again.
Grayson County then moved methodically downfield taking eight plays to get on the board again, with Ruth carrying in from the one at the 7:01 mark.
Two more punts were exchanged before Hancock took over at their own 44 with 3:37 left to play. Clay ran 18 yards, down to the Cougar 38, but on second down he was sacked by junior Logan Sailing and he coughed up the ball. Sailing covered it at the Cougar 43 to halt the threat.
The Hornets had one more try to tie the game, taking possession at their own 30 with 1:40 left in the game, but on second down, Clay was intercepted by Luke Henderson and the Cougars were able to kneel in victory formation to run out the clock.
It will be Homecoming this coming Friday night as the Cougars play host to old rival Breckinridge County at Cougar Field. The game is scheduled to begin at 7 p.m.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com.
