The Metcalfe County Hornets came into town Friday night, with their number 10 ranking in the state in class 2A, to take on the Cougars. Both teams were coming in with big wins the previous week and looking to continue with their winning ways.

The young Cougars were in a giving mood, turning the ball over 10 times before the night was over. Metcalfe County, returning most of the starters from a team that reached the third round of the playoffs last year, took advantage of the miscues scoring 38 points off of the Cougar turnovers. At the end of the night the scoreboard showed that the Cougars had fallen to the Hornets by a score of 48-7.

Coach Lee Proctor said after the game that when you have so many young players in key positions that there will be times they look great and times that you have to live through their growing pains.

The Cougar defense started the night off right forcing the Hornets to punt on their first possession. The Hornets Winston Harbison, the coaches son, pinned the Cougars deep in there own territory with a well placed kick. Thomas Washington of the Cougars got the call to start for the second week in a row. Taking over on their own 14 yard line Washington miss fired on two pass attempts and was held to no gain on his first rush attempt.

Cameron Collier lined up to punt near his own end zone. Collier missed handled the snap and fell on it in the end zone to give the Hornets a safety and a 2-0 lead. After the free kick the Hornets started their next drive on their own 44. Led by the hard running of Jeffery White and Harbison the Hornets drove the 56 yards in 7 plays, the last 4 coming off a run by White for touchdown. Curtis Asbell's kick was no good and the Hornets led 8-0 at the end of the first quarter.

Early in the second quarter Thomas Washington found Andrew Bunton running a seam route down the middle of the field. Bunton caught the ball in stride and displayed his power and speed as he broke two tackles and raced down the left sideline for a 61 yard touchdown reception. Phillip Stratton kicked the extra point and with 10:01 left in the half the Cougars trailed 8-7.

The Hornets took over on their 38 yard line. The right arm of QB Will Warf led his team down the field connecting on 3-6 passes for 45 yards. But the Cougar defense stiffened and on fourth down and stopped receiver David Coffey short of a first down. Taking over at their 11 yard line the Cougars handed the ball off to Jonathon Barbee up the middle, Barbee running strong trying to pick up a couple of extra yards got stripped of the ball and the Hornets recovered at the 16. Three plays later White again took the ball over from 3 yards out. The Hornets 2 point attempt failed leaving the score 14-7 with 6:14 to go before half.

Later in the quarter the Cougar defense forced a punt by the Hornets. LeRon Collier took the punt and carried the ball up the field where he was hit hard by two Hornets and fumbled the ball. The Hornets recovered and took over at the Cougar 31. Four plays later White found the end zone again carrying the ball over from 7 yards. Asbell kicked the extra point and at the half the Cougars trailed 21-7.

Coming out of halftime neither team could get anything going on their first possessions. Following a partially blocked punt by the Hornets Justin Tudor, Metcalfe County started at the Cougar 22. Warf found Coffey for a 22 yard touchdown strike 3 plays later and Asbell made the extra point extending the Hornets lead to 28-7 with 6:50 left in the third.

Starting at their 33 yard line the Cougars tried to strike quickly with Thomas Washington looking for Timron Knox deep over the middle, the ball was just a little high and was intercepted by White of the Hornets. White took the ball 45 yards down the left sideline for the score. The extra point was no good and the Hornets had a commanding 34-7 lead with 6:36 still to play in the 3rd quarter.

After a good return by Rueben Watson the Cougar offense started their next drive a midfield. But once again the turnover bug hit when a low snap from center could not be handled by Washington and the Hornets recovered.

The Hornets wasted little time capitalizing on the miscue. Warf found Aaron Miller for a 31 yard completion and then White finished the drive with a 5 yard touchdown run. Asbell added the extra point to extend the lead to 41-7. So in just 3 minutes and 42 seconds the Hornets had taken a close game and turned it into a blowout.

The final score came early in the fourth. The Hornets took over at midfield after holding the Cougars on a fourth down. Warf drove his team down the field in 8 plays and Colton Satterly went over from the 2. Asbell added the extra point to end the scoring at 48-7 with 10:07 left in the game. The remainder of the game both coaches gave some of their younger players an opportunity go get some varsity experience. The Cougars final offense play of the night was indicative of the entire game when Barbee took the handoff from John Logan Dockins and made a nice run up the middle for a gain but trying to free himself from a tackler he was stripped of the ball and the Hornets recovered.

Washington finished the night 3-14 for 103 yards, one touchdown and five interceptions. Andrew Bunton had 2 catches for 98 yards and one touchdown. Jonathon Barbee led the Cougar ground attack with 22 yards. Once again the Cougars defense was led by the hard hitting tackles of Cameron Collier 15 tackles and Luke Simmons 14 tackles.

Next week Logan County will travel to Elkton to take on the Todd County Rebels. Todd County comes into the game with a 1-2 record having been beaten by McLean County and Ballard Memorial. But the Rebels won last week beating Muhlenberg North by the score of 34-8. The Cougars will need to take care of the ball better Friday night to have a chance to come home with the victory. Game time is at 7 p.m. If you are not able to make it to the game be sure and tune in Saturday to WRUS at 3 p.m. to hear the delayed broadcast by Gib Sun and Andy Woodall.

Metcalfe - 8 13 20 7 48

Logan - 0 7 0 0 0

1st

MC- Fields Safety 6:20

MC- White 4 yd run (Asbell kick no good) 2:37

2cd

LC- Washington to Bunton 61 yds (Stratton kick) 10:01

MC- White 2 yd run (pass failed) 6:14

MC- White 7 yd run (Asbell kick good) :55

3rd

MC- Warf to Miller 22 yds (Asbell kick) 6:50

MC- White 45 yd int. return (Asbell kick no good) 6:36

MC- White 5 yd run (Asbell kick) 3:08

4th

MC- Satterly 2 yd run (Asbell kick) 10:07