The Shadow
HOT SPRINGS — The Covington Cougars were in bounce-back mode Friday night.
Luke Moye fired three touchdown passes, while Brandon Phillips and Raquann Mat-thews each scored a pair, as the Cougars rebounded from back-to-back losses with a convincing 42-7 win over the Bath County Chargers.
While the Cougars were snapping a two-game skid, the Chargers saw a modest two-game winning streak come to an end, a streak that included a 14-13 win over Parry McCluer a week ago.
“I’m glad my football team returned,” said Covington coach Rod Tenney, whose Cougars completed a 7-3 regular season. “We played like we played earlier in the season.
“We had passion; we played hard,” the Cougar boss added. “I’m just pleased to see them back on the right path.”
Phillips rushed for 92 yards on 10 carries, and his 31-yard TD jaunt got the Cougars on the board near the midpoint of the first quarter.
Phillips’ touchdown was set up by Moye’s 31-yard dash that took the football into Bath County terrority.
Derek Dressler booted his first of six extra points, and the Cougars held an early 7-0 lead.
An exchange of turnovers on consecutive plays gave the Cougars the ball at their own 43 later in the first quarter.
Matthews jumped on the loose ball after a failed Bath County hook-and-ladder, and the Cougars positioned themselves for a second scoring opportunity.
Eight plays later, the Cougars again found paydirt. This time, Matthews finished what he started with a 9-yard TD reception from Phillips that staked the Cougars to a 14-0 lead.
The Chargers got right back in it. Ben Wolfe’s 57-yard kickoff return gave the Chargers a short field at the Covington 28-yard line.
Five plays later, Owen Fry found the end zone from nine yards out, and Ethan Wrights booted the point, whittling the Covington lead to 14-7.
But the backbreaker for the Chargers likely came just before the half.
Darnell Tolson picked off a pass and returned it to the Bath County 23 with less than a minute remaining on the first-half clock.
Two plays later, Moye threw his first TD of the evening, finding Phillips from 23 yards out and giving the Cougars a 21-7 lead with only 32 seconds remaining before the half.
After the Covington defense held the Chargers to a 3-and-out to start the second half, the Cougars were back in business.
Matthews hauled in a 12-yard touchdown pass from Moye that increased the Covington lead to 28-7.
The Cougars continued to have their way in the second half a little later in the third quarter.
Moye ended his impressive night with a 12-yard strike to Colton Howard that upped the Covington lead to 35-7 near the end of the third quarter.
Jordan Miller capped the scoring with a 2-yard touchdown near the midpoint of the final quarter, increasing the Covington lead to 42-7.
“We just couldn’t get off the field on third down,” said Bath County coach Will Fields, whose Chargers ended a 5-5 regular season. “They throw those jump balls up in the air, and that was the story of the game. They have too many basketball players.”
Moye completed eight of his 11 passes for 121 yards and three touchdowns, to go with Phillips’ 92 yards rushing.
Phillips also led Covington receivers with three catches for another 84 yards.
Matthews caught four balls for 34 yards and a pair of touchdowns.
Owen Fry had 55 yards on 12 carries to lead the Chargers, while Tyler Robertson had 39 yards on the ground.
Michael Criser picked up a fumble for Bath County, while Tolson’s pick and a Matthews fumble recovery accounted for Covington’s two forced turn-overs. The Cougars held a 380-130 advantage in total yardage. They didn’t commit a penalty on the night and they were never forced to punt.
“We had a game plan, and we executed well,” Tenney said.
“Hopefully, we can make a little run at this thing,” the Covington coach concluded. “That was the focus all week long. I think they’re ready to do that too.”
