Senior Kaylor Decker had a memorable night as he ran for more than 200 yards and passed for over 200 yards in the Cougars; 49-30 win over visiting McLean County.
Decker carried the ball 17 times for 207 yards and three touchdowns, and completed 16-of-20 passes for 202 yards and two more TDs.
Senior wide receiver Hunter Tomes also had a big night for the Cougars. He caught seven passes for 146 yards and two scores. He also carried the ball twice for 12 yards and another score. Senior running back Chandler McCrady carried the ball 11 times for 78 yards and a touchdown.
Defensively, Tomes led the team with 11 tackles, eight of them solo tackles. Senior defensive end Ben Rogers had 10 tackles, eight of the solo variety.
McLean got on the scoreboard first. Grayson County opened the game with the ball and had moved 38 yards, to the McLean 23-yard line, when a Decker pass was intercepted by senior defensive back Brady Dame and returned 84 yards for the touchdown. A try for two failed, leaving the score 6-0 at the 10:18 mark
The Cougars then took the ball and moved 76 yards in eight plays to take the lead for good, 7-6. Decker ran the ball in from 36 yards out and Jackson Kane added the extra point.
McLean was forced to punt on its next possession and Grayson County took over at the McLean 38. Two plays later, Decker was back in the end zone following a 42-yard run. Kane added the extra point and it was 14-6 with 3:35 left in the first period.
McLean moved into Grayson County territory on its next possession but on a fourth-and-one at the Cougar 44-yard line they fumbled the ball and Rogers recovered it at the Cougar 45. Four plays later the Cougars were in the end zone again, this time with McCrady carrying in from the four. With 10:36 left in the second period, the Cougars led 21-6.
McLean got their offense rolling on their next possession and moved 69 yards in 11 plays with Dame taking a six-yard pass from quarterback Brodie Cline, who then carried for a two-point conversion to make it 21-14 with 4:29 left in the first half.
Grayson County then moved 47 yards in eight plays, but stalled at the McLean 10-yard line. Kane came in and kicked a 27-yard field goal with 15 seconds left to make it 24-14 at the half.
Neither team scored in the third quarter, setting up a high-scoring fourth quarter. Grayson took over on downs with 4:09 left in the third quarter and moved 67 yards in 10 plays, with Tomes taking a 32-yard pass from Decker to make it 31-14 with 11:38 left in the fourth quarter.
McLean responded immediately as Cline and Dame hooked up again, this time a 69-yard connection on the first play from scrimmage. Dame added a two-point conversion to make it 31-22 with 11:25 left in the game.
McLean then tried an onside kick which Grayson covered at the McLean 48. Seven plays later, the ball had moved just eight yards through penalties, but on second-and-20, Decker hit Tomes with a pass at the 25. Tomes broke two tackles at that spot, turned and carried in for another score. The extra-point try failed, leaving the score 37-22 at the 6:52 mark.
On first down of the next McLean possession, sophomore Keaton Hodges picked off a Cline pass and the Cougars took over at the McLean 37. Two plays later, Decker carried in from 38 yards out to make it 43-22. The point-after try failed.
McLean responded with another one-play scoring drive as Cline found Dame again, this time from 74 yards out. Dame scored on the two-point try to make it 43-30 with 5:37 left in the game.
Trying another onside kick, McLean was flagged for a personal foul at midfield and the Cougars took over at the McLean 37. Three plays later Tomes carried in from the seven with 4:31 left. The extra-point try was no good, leaving the score 49-30.
McLean had one last gasp, as they moved the ball to the Cougar 18, but a Cline pass was intercepted by sophomore Jeren Van Meter at the five and returned to the 33, sealing the win for the Cougars.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
