Coming off a bye week, the Patrick County High Cougars were ready to go when they hosted the James River Knights for the Homecoming Game and Senior Night on November 8. The Cougars started strong and never let up in their 35-3 win.
“Coming off the bye week, we’ve been trying to get healthy and working hard to get our guys out there. The bye week can really rejuvenate you, and I feel like we were very rejuvenated,” said Cougar head coach David Morrison.
After receiving the opening kickoff, the Cougars drove down the field with solid blocking and rushing, converting a 4th and 2, they capped off the drive with an Easton Harris touchdown run to take the early, 7-0 lead.
On their first drive, James River moved down the field, mostly aided by Cougar penalties, including a pass interference call. The Cougar defense held the Knights to a field goal.
The Cougars added to their lead with 7:49 to go in the first half on an Easton Harris 50-yard touchdown run. The offensive line played great all night, but on this play, a big gap opened for Harris to run though, and once in the secondary, he out sprinted the defense, giving the Cougars a 14-3 lead.
It was the defense that came up big, forcing and recovering a James River fumble. The Cougars took advantage of the turnover when Avone Kidd scored on a short run up the middle for a 21-3 lead they would take into halftime.
In the second half, the Cougar defense came up huge with two goal line stands in a few minutes. Not only did they keep the Knights out of the end zone, but a nearly 100-yard Avone Kidd run followed the second goal line stand, setting up a goal-to-go for the Cougars. Kidd would score behind a tremendous push by the offensive line, increasing the Cougar’s lead to 28-3 with 8:17 to go in the game.
The Cougars would find the end zone one more time on an Antwain Mitchell touchdown run, set up by a Cameron Collins interception in Knights’ territory. The Cougar defense closed out the game with another interception, this time by Glenn Stovall, sealing the 35-3 win for Patrick County.
The Cougar seniors came up big on senior night for their final regular season game. “They just flat out played,” said Coach Morrison. “We challenged our underclassmen more than our seniors. You come into senior night and homecoming, you know what you’re going to get out of your seniors. You’re going to get everything they’ve got. We wanted our underclassmen to understand that one of these days, it’s going to be your time, your senior night, your homecoming, and you want the underclassmen to send you out the way you deserve. You’ve got to play your hearts out for these guys (seniors) because they’ve been playing their hearts out for you. I really think everyone stepped up tonight.”
Senior Easton Harris led the Cougars with 144 yards on 21 carries, adding 6 yards receiving, 25 kick return yards, and two touchdowns. Quarterback Avone Kidd had 123 yards on the ground and two touchdowns. Jayden Corns added 40 yards rushing and Antwain Mitchell chipped in 16 yards and a touchdown.
The Cougar defense was solid the entire game, led by Paul Pascale’s 8 tackles. Conner Goad and Jackson Callahan each had 6 tackles, and a broken up pass.
On special teams, Erick Martinez-Tejada was a perfect 5-for-5 on point after kicks, and punter Christian Hylton averaged 38 yards on his two punts.
Next up for the Cougars is a rematch at Radford in the first round of the Region 2C playoffs on Friday, November 15. The Cougars will look to avenge their October 18, 28-14 loss at Radford.
“We’re excited to be in the playoffs again, and we hope to make a run,” said Coach Morrison. “You go in and everybody’s 0-0. It’s win or go home, and I like the direction our team is heading right now. I’m very proud of the effort these guys are putting in and the progress we’ve made.”
