The Shadow
If you were in attendance last night at Boodie Albert Stadium, you were treated to a great game with a great finish for the second straight Friday night.
However, the finish last night, was not the same result for Covington Cougars and its fans.
The Cougars fell 34-32 to the James River Knights in a non district game. The loss dropped the Cougars to 2-2 on the season while the Knights improved to 2-1.
After three tightly battled quarters, it came down to the fourth quarter with the Cougars trailing the Knights 20-18.
Early in the fourth quarter, after the Cougars failed to convert on a fourth down play at the Knights 23 yard line, the Knights made the Cougars pay two plays later with a 73 yard rushing touchdown from Conner Church. After the made extra point, the Knights took a 27-18 lead with just over nine minutes left in the game.
Trailing by two scores, the fans at Boodie Albert Stadium became quiet.
That quietness quickly turned around, however.
After the Knights kicked the ball out of bounds two times in a row on the kick return, the third try was kicked to their own 48 yard line as the ball was downed by Brady Howard.
Two plays later, Cougars quarterback, Javier Yancey connected with Chadwick Tacy for a 31 yard touchdown. The score was cut to only three points at 27-24.
Cougars Head Coach, Chris Jones elected to go for a two-point try instead of an extra point and was successful on his decision as Yancey and Tacy connected for a second time in a row to cut the game to only one point at 27-26.
The stadium was rocking again as the fans new the Cougars were back in the game with over eight minutes to go in the game.
With the Cougars within a point, the defense got the Knights offense to commit a false start penalty on third down. Instead of facing a 3rd-and-7, the Knights were going backwards and facing a daunting 3rd-and-12 to go.
On third down, Knights quarterback, Zeal Hammon connected with Church for a 33 yard reception and new set of downs.
One play later, Church rushed for a 28 yard touchdown. The extra point was good and gave the Knights a 34-26 lead.
Twice in the fourth quarter, the Cougars could of put their hands to their sides and had their heads down, but they didn’t. That’s something coach Jones talked about last week, how you cannot question the heart of this (Cougars) football team.
After the Cougars got a nine yard kickoff return from Turner to their own 30 yard line, the team was looking at a little over five minutes to get down the field.
On the first play of the drive, Yancey got a clean snap from his center and had scramble to avoid the rush from the defense. After avoiding two potential sacks, Yancey connected with Turner for a 70 yard touchdown.
Drama was unfolding at Boodie Albert Stadium for the second week in a row.
Now trailing 34-32 after the 70 yard touchdown pass, the Cougars had to go for a two-point try. Unfortunately, the two-point try was no good as Yancey was picked off in the endzone as he was looking for Turner.
The Cougars found themselves within striking distance still and plenty of time left to go as their one-play drive lasted all of 22 seconds as there was still over five minutes left in the game.
The Knights did not return the kickoff. On their first down play, the team grabbed a 15 yard rush to move the chains to their own 35 yard line.
After grabbing a new set of downs, the Knights tried to run to the outside, but Turner got to the ball carrier well passed the line of scrimmage and forced a loss of five yards on the play. On the next play, the offense got back four yards and were facing a 3rd-and-11.
In what was at the time, the biggest play of the game up coming, the crowd was roaring and getting behind their home team, Hammon dropped back and was sacked by a combo rush of Ethan Martin and Dontai Samuels.
After punting the ball to the Cougars 39 yard line, the home team was left with just over two minutes left in the game trailing by two points.
The offense was in this situation last week when Yancey connected with Turner and a made extra point, tied the game at 13-13 with the Alleghany Mountaineers with just over two minutes left.
Facing a similar situation, Cougars running back, Neeko Jeter rushed the ball on first down for no gain.
With the clock ticking, Yancey snapped the ball and was met by a furious defensive rush. Yancey danced out of two potential sacks and went all the way back to their own 30 yard line before ultimately passing it for a nine yard loss.
Facing a 3rd-and-19, Yancey once again got away from the rush of the defense and scrambled his way for a 23 yard rush and a new set of downs for the offense all while now in the Knights side of the field.
However, the clock continued to tick down and the Cougars had one timeout left.
On first down, Yancey kept the ball and rushed for three yards, but could not get out of bounds, forcing coach Jones to call his final timeout.
With looking at a 2nd-and-7, Yancey dropped back and threw the ball down the field looking for Howard, but was intercepted for the second time in the game.
The Knights offense took over and had one kneel down to allow the clock to run out and end the game.
In the loss, Yancey went 9-for-17 with 205 yards passing, three touchdowns (all passing), and two interceptions. Yancey also added a team high 74 yards rushing on seven attempts.
Sophomore, Turner, had quite the dual performance on offense and defense, including two touchdowns. Turner ended up with several tackles on defense, while adding the first Cougars special teams touchdown of the season coming on an 88 yard kick return of a touchdown during the second quarter. Turner also had three receptions for 95 yards and a receiving touchdown.
Senior, Mitchell Tallman, finished the game with two receptions for 74 yards and a touchdown. The touchdown coming in the third quarter with the Cougars trailing 14-12. Tallman also had an interception on defense that came in the second quarter.
On the defensive side of the ball, the Cougars gave up a total of 543 yards.
Senior, Howard led the defense with 13 total tackles in the game. Sophomore, Ethan Martin, had 12 total tackles to go along with a team high two sacks.
In the win for the Knights, sophomore quarterback Hammon went 9-for-12 passing with 141 yards, and three total touchdowns (one passing, two rushing).
Next week the Cougars will be back at home as they host the 1-2 James Monroe Yellow Jackets. The Yellow Jackets are coming off of a 49-7 loss to the Mountain View Wildcats last night.
Scoring Plays;
First Quarter, 1:49 – Cougars Dontai Samuels, 3yd rush/PAT no good – 6-0
Second Quarter, 8:57 – Knights Zeal Hammon, 4yd rush/PAT good – 7-6
Second Quarter, 2:01 – Knights Hammon, 1yd rush/PAT good – 14-6
Second Quarter, 1:49 – Cougars Purcel Turner, 88yd kick return/2pt try no good – 14-12
Third Quarter, 5:56 – Cougars Javier Yancey to Mitchell Tallman, 64yds/2pt try no good – 18-14
Third Quarter, 2:24 – Knights Hammon to Ben Bailey, 25yds/PAT blocked – 20-18
Fourth Quarter, 9:31 – Knights Conner Church, 73yd rush/PAT good – 27-18
Fourth Quarter, 8:46 – Cougars Yancey to Chadwick Tacy, 31yds/2pt try good – 27-26
Fourth Quarter, 5:40 – Knights Church, 28yd rush/PAT good – 34-26
Fourth Quarter, 5:18 – Cougars Yancey to Turner, 70yds/2pt try no good – 34-32
Team Quarter/Points/Total
Knights 0 14 6 14 34
Cougars 6 6 6 14 32
