A 4-1 record at the midpoint of a football season is always impressive, but to earn it the Logan County Cougars survived a major scare last Friday which could have seriously damaged a season full of potential.
The Cougars were one down and four yards away from starting their district season with a loss, but they had an asset the Allen County-Scottsville Patriots couldn’t match—Davin Yates.
Although Yates had been playing running back/receiver most of the game, when not only this game but also a future home playoff contest were on the line, Coach Todd Adler moved him back to quarterback, a position he has manned the last three years. He carried the ball all four downs while the Cougars were inside the Patriot 10 yard line in overtime.
AC-S had kicked a field goal on its OT possession, and the Cougars needed either a field goal to continue the game or a touchdown to win it. Yates ran to the one-yard line on second down, but on third down he had to fall on a fumbled snap at the four. Adler has a couple of capable kickers in Kyla Bilyeu and Caiden Kirby, but the coach, who has made winning a habit in Cougarland, called on a weapon he trusts completely. Yates responded by bulling his was into the end zone for the victory.
For the game, Yates carried the ball 17 times for 90 yards and 2 touchdowns, passed for 50 yards, caught 5 passes for 43 yards and a touchdown, made 7 tackles including one for a safety, and scored 20 points.
Other notables:
Elijah Hawkins was the leading rusher and added 8 tackles. Two of those tackles were for losses, and he joined Yates in making 5 solo tackles. He carried the ball 15 times for 160 yards and a touchdown.
Ridge Holman completed 15 of 40 passes for 103 yards and a touchdown.
Brady Hinton caught 4 passes for 62 yards, and Jack Delaney also made 4 receptions for 30 yards. Delaney also made 5 tackles.
Jacob White was the leading tackler with 9. Hunter Holloway intercepted a Patriot pass. Keige Shoemake sacked the AC-S quarterback. The Cougars were 3 for 3 in kicking with Bilyeu making both of hers and Kirby the other.
See midseason statistics in the accompanying graphics.
The Cougars, whose only road game so far this season has be 2.5 miles to Rhea Stadium to play Russellville, has another home encounter tonight in a district matchup with Calloway County. In fact, it’s homecoming. Game time is 7 p.m.
The Russellville vs. Todd Central game tonight is also at home and will be carried live on WRUS. The Cougar game will be aired Saturday at 1 on WRUS.