Trojans edge Raiders 7-6, 3-0 for 1st time since 1995

Spillman’s QB sneak and Adam’s PAT kick give the Trojans the win. 

The Barren County Trojans needed a break last week to run their record to 3-0 for the first time in 30 years. They got it when a wide open Warren East receiver dropped a probable 4th down touchdown pass to preserve the Trojans 7-6 win over the Raiders.

The pass hit him right on the numbers. But, do not take anything away from the Trojan football team, especially their defense, Barren County never stopped battling and they won the football game.

The victory was not a gift.

Barren County did what they had to do to get the big “W” for Coach Tommy Muse and company. The Trojan defense had smothered the Raiders receivers on the three previous pass plays to not allow them to even touch the football.

Coach Muse was a member of that 1995 Trojan football team that started 3-0. Muse was coached by Billy Lindsey. Lindsey coached the Trojans until 2003,

The Raiders scored near the end of the 1st quarter and controlled the ball, the scoreboard, and the game until the final few minutes.

BCHS took the second half kickoff and went for it on 4th down and 1. Tate Spillman picked up the tough yardage on a QB sneak, but the Trojans were forced to punt on that possession.

The Trojan defense did their job thanks to sacks by Waylon Clemmons and Jonathan Wilson to force a Raider punt.

BCHS came up empty again, but the Trojans defense continued to answer the call. Wilson’s big hit in the backfield caused a 4-yard loss and Braxton Carnes’ tough pass coverage set up 3rd and long for the Raiders. A Warren East bomb, from their own 35 to the BCH 13-yard line gave them great field position.

The Trojan defense answered the call again. The Raiders ran a reverse to the 8-yard line setting up a 4th and 5 at the end of the 3rd quarter.

Brayden Houchens’ defensive prowess kept the Raiders out of the end zone and gave the Trojans the football back. The Trojans went to work after a penalty. Spillman picked up 6 yards plus a late hit tacked on 15 more. The Trojans had excellent field position at the WEHS 45-yard with 4:51 showing on the clock.

Spillman hit Brey Bewley for a 41-yard clutch catch on a deep post to the 3-yard line, Bewely just missed getting into the end zone and saving the Trojan faithful fans a few more minutes of agonizing drama.

In the long run, it may have benefitted BCHS. Not scoring on Spillman’s great throw and Bewly’s clutch catch, burnt almost 2 more minutes off the clock and meant the Raiders wouldn’t have much time left to try and score when they got the football back.

Austin Sewell eventually got the Trojans inside the 1-yard line. On 4th down, Spillman’s quarterback sneak into the end zone caused a major eruption from the big home team crowd.

Spillman’s offensive lineman got a push, and the senior QB went lower than anyone else for the score and the 6-6 tie.

Last week, Hadley Adams was 4 of 6 on her PAT kicks, nailing the last three straight on the three straight Trojan scores in their win over the Wildcats. Those big kicks had to give her confidence with less than 2 minutes remaining in the game against the Raiders. The senior, in her first year as the starting kicker, calmly stepped up and split the uprights for the winning point.

The Trojan defense still had work to do.

The Raiders took over after the kickoff on their own 40-yard line with no timeouts and 1:57 remaining in the game. Pressure from defensive end Colton Thomas on one side and, pressure and nearly a sack by Wilson from the other side end on their first pass attempt made sure the Raiders didn’t score on first down. Spillman and Dakodah Wade stopped their next throw.

On 3rd and 10, Clemmons’ defense forced the Raiders into 4th and final chance. The Trojan defense slipped up and let a Raider receiver get behind them, but the Trojans got the break they needed when the football hit him on the chest, but fell to the turf.

The Trojans went into victory formation, took a knee and watched the final few seconds tick off the clock for the 7-6 win.

“When it is defense, I like it,” Muse said happily in his postgame comments with sideline reporter, Chad Withrow.  “We went into the last two weeks down and battled and found a way to win. We didn’t quit. I’m extremely proud of all these kids. All of them.”

“I love it, I’m excited for the kids,” said Muse. “I’m excited for Barren County.”

Spillman rushed 20 times for 42 yards to lead the Trojan’s limited ground game. Spillman was 10 of 13 for 119 yards and 1 interception. Dalton Garmon had 4 catches for 40 yards, Cash Moore had 2 catches for 18 yards.

Bewely had all 3 of his clutch catches on that last drive to make a big, late impact in the game. Bewley’s catches totaled 56 yards.

The Trojans had only had 175 total yards on offense, with just 75 yards on the ground. Carnes added 8 rushes for 27 yards.

Barren County travels to Monroe this Friday night before their road matchup with Glasgow next Friday.