Grayson County’s Cougar football team went on the road to Glasgow last Friday evening and came home with a 25-3 victory over the Barren County Trojans on their sparkling, new football facility.
The win improved the Cougars to 6-3 heading into the final week of the regular season. The Cougars will host Muhlenberg County (3-6) in a Senior Night contest this coming Friday in the final regular-season game.
The Cougars also found out their first round opponent in the postseason. With their 47-6 loss to Owensboro on Friday, the Graves County Eagles (4-5) became the second seed in Class 5A-District 1 and will host the Cougars on November 2.
Against Barren County, the Cougars produced more than 400 yards of total offense while giving up just 239 yards to the Trojans, with 195 of those yards coming on the ground. The majority of those yards came from two players, senior quarterback Zach Johnson and junior running back, Tyler Bush.
Grayson County rushed for 301 yards, with sophomore running back Q’Daryius McHenry carrying 14 times for 162 yards and two touchdowns. Senior Derrick Ruth carried 12 times for 67 yards and another touchdown.
Senior quarterback Noah Bullock passed 10 times, completing five for 107 yards and one touchdown. McHenry caught three passes for 77 yards and one score.
Barren County got on the board first, taking the opening kickoff and swiftly moving into Cougar territory on a couple of big running plays, one each from Johnson and Bush. But with a Barren first down at the Cougar 14, the Grayson County defense came up big and closed down the drive.
With a fourth-and-10, the Trojans elected to bring out their place-kicker, freshman Aden Nyeken, who put his 31-yard effort through the uprights to give the Trojans a 3-0 lead with 8:41 left in the first period.
That would turn out to be the Trojans’ only lead of the night. It took the Cougars just two plays to score a touchdown and grab the lead for good. Following a touchback, Grayson County took over at their own 20-yard line. Bullock completed a 22-yard pass to Ruth for a first down at the Cougar 42.
Bullock then pitched a completed a shovel pass of less than a yard to McHenry, who was coming in on a sweep from a wide-out position on the right. The Cougar running back found the left side wide open and he jetted down the sidelines on a 58-yard romp. Logan Raymer’s point-after made it 7-3, which is how the first period ended.
Near the start of the second period, the Trojans faced a fourth-and-12 from their own 23. The ensuing punt carried netted just eight yards, and the Cougars took over at the Trojan 31-yard line. Six plays later, Ruth carried in from the one to make it 13-3, which is how the first half ended. Ruth carried five times on that scoring drive gaining all but eight yards of the drive.
Neither team was able to score in the third quarter, but as the final period began, the Trojans were threatening. Taking over at their own 37 near the end of the third quarter, they had moved to the Cougar nine, where they had a first-and-goal. Once again the Cougar defense stepped up and forced another 31-yard field goal try.
But this time the kick was wide. The Cougars took over at their own 20, and embarked on another 80-yard scoring drive to pretty much ice the game. McHenry put the finishing touches on the drive with a 29-yard run to make it 19-3 with 5:30 left in the game.
Barren County threatened again on the ensuing possession after Bush gained 36 yards on first down. But facing a third-and-five at the Cougar 30, senior Andrew Haycraft intercepted a Johnson pass at the 15 and returned it to the 30.
The Cougars then moved 70 yards in six plays to score again and put a cherry on top of the sundae. McHenry carried in from the 16 for the final score of the night.
Senior Night against the Muhlenberg County Mustangs is slated to begin at 7 p.m. at Cougar Stadium.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
