Wildcats rundown Colonels 43-28

Caverna High School welcomed Edmonson County to their school for Homecoming festivities last Friday night, but the Wildcats turned out to be unwanted guests. The Wildcats randown the Colonels, spoiling the Caverna homecoming, 43-28.

The visitors did not run them over, but the Wildcats did get behind running back Michael Mills and use a powerful running game to chalk up their first win of the season.

ECHS called tails and won the toss, but CHS forced a quick punt.

The Colonels game out gunning on offense. Coach Trevent Hayes called three straight passes. Quarterback Russell Williams completed two long passes to Tyson Martin and LD Waggoner and were in prime field position to score first, but they went to the well one too many times. Williams’ third pass was underthrown and Carter Swihart’s interception gave the Wildcats back the firstball.

The Wildcats went to Mills and he did not disappoint, scoring the touchdown and the 2-point conversion.

The Colonels hurt their own cause with 2 penalties on their next drive forcing 3rd and 22.  Aden Melvin hit Williams in the backfield on a pass attempt and after another CHS penalty, the Colonels punted.

The Wildcats went back to their workhorse. Mills ran on 3 straight carries with the third rush into the end zone. Swihart scored the 2-point try and ECHS led 16-0 with 3:52 on the clock.

Coach Hayes had to take a timeout to avoid another penalty. On 3rd and 1, Tyson Martin proved the Colonels had a running game too. Martin scampered 45 yards for the TD with 1:52 remaining in the 1st quarter. The conversion failed and the Wildcats led 16-6.

Mills went back to work toting the football twice and Swihart once to get ECHS inside the 5-yard line. The Colonel defense came up with 2 big stops and forced the Wildcats into a 3rd and 1 when the quarter ended. Mills scored on the first play of the 2nd period. Colton White split the uprights for the PAT kick and the Wildcats led 23-6.

Waggoner and Tyson Martin gave the Colonels back-to-back first downs on the 38-yard line. Williams carried the Colonels to another 1st down on the 26-yard line. After another Martin rush, a Williams QB sneak made the score 23-12 after Noah Meredith knocked down the pass on the 2-point try.

Mills and Swihart rushed the Wildcats to the 24-yard line, but a Wildcat penalty and a sack by Zedric Drawhorn stymied the drive momentarily. A facemask penalty helped give the visitors a 1st and goal at the 6-yard line.

Logan Brown recovered a fumble to give the Colonels back the football with 1:58 left in the first half but ECHS forced the Colonels to punt.

With 58.9 seconds left in the half, Taviane Alexander broke up a Wildcat pass attempt. Meredith connected with Mills on a bubble screen on 4th and 12 to give the Wildcats a TD just before the half ended. White kicked the PAT to give the Wildcats a 30-12 lead at the break.

Things didn’t start out well for the home team when the visitors recovered an onside kick to start the 2nd half. Meredith scored on a QB sneak, but the Colonels blocked the extra point try and the Wildcats led 36-12.

Tyson Martin and Waggoner carried the Colonels to the goal line. Martin scored on 4th and goal. He also converted the 2-point try to pull the Colonels within 36-20, the score at the end of the 3rd quarter.

The Colonels had a fighting chance with the 4th quarter remaining but they were forced to punt on their next possession with 10:24 showing on the clock.

The Wildcats scored on their next possession and the Colonels tacked on a late touchdown for the final score, Edmonson County 43 Caverna 28.

The Wildcats move to 1-3 on the season. The Colonels fall 1-3.

The Colonels are facing some tough times with an injury depleted squad. Senior Conner Mudd (WR/CB) was injured the first game of the season and Jaylin Craine (WR/S) was injured in the first quarter against Eminence.

Coach Hayes hopes he will have those two key players and a few others back and in tip-top shape and ready to play by the time their 3-game district stretch starts. Caverna plays Fulton County away on September 29 in their first District 1 Class 1A matchup.

Then, on Oct. 13, the Colonels travel to Russellville before returning home on Oct. 20 to face Ballard Memorial in their final regular season district game.

The Colonels travel to Monroe County in non-district action for their final regular season game on Oct. 27th.