Avoiding a letdown after having played such an emotional game the week before will be part of the puzzle both the Logan County Cougars and Russellville Panthers have to solve in Friday night games.
They played each other last week in the annual Clash of the Cats. At 49-6, it was the most lopsided win ever for Logan against the Cougars’ crosstown rival.
Coach Todd Adler’s team, which has won all four of its games via running clock, goes to Calhoun to take on the McLean County Cougars. Coach Zach Wagner’s team is 3-1 with lopsided win over Ohio County and Muhlenberg County, a one-touchdown victory over Trigg County and a three-point loss to Owensboro Apollo. McLean is receiving some Associated Press votes in Class 2A, but is not in the Top Ten. Logan County is ranked fourth in the state in Class 4A.
McLean County beat Muhlenberg County 31-7 two weeks after Logan won at Muhlenberg 56-18.
The Panthers will welcome the Wildcats in search of their seventh straight win over the Trigg County Wildcats. Both teams have 2-2 records. A Class 3A team, Trigg has beaten Monroe County and Ballard Memorial while losing to McLean by three and to Russellville’s district opponent, Crittenden County, 46-7.
WRUS will carry the Cougar game live at 610 AM, 94.1 FM, http://streamdb3web.securenetsystems.net/v5/WRUSAM and on the WRUS ap.
The Panther game will be replayed at 2 p.m. Saturday on the same platforms.
Ezell and Hardy put up big numbers
In last Friday’s Clash, Cougar quarterback Tyler Ezell completed 19 of 27 pass attempts for 237 yards and a touchdown. He also ran the ball 8 times for 80 yards and two touchdowns, bringing his total to 317 yards and three touchdowns.
Fellow junior Gary Hardy rushed 14 times for 130 yards and three TDs. Maurice Gordon picked up 30 yards on four totes. Carson Bradley only rushed twice but he scored a touchdown in the process.
Not only did six Cougars catch passes, but a trio of them caught five passes each: Dontavius Blann for 76 yards, Maurice Gordon for 66 and Koby Wall for 46. Anthony Woodard caught two of Ezell’s aerials for 16 yards, including a touchdown while Chandler Silvey and Reggie Powell pulled in one each.
Lucas Arevalo kicked five extra points.
All-state candidate Caden McKinnis led the team with eight tackles, five of them solo, two of them for losses. Collier Kempf and Ethan Steenbergen also recorded impressive numbers. Four of Kempf’s five tackles were solos and three of them for losses. Steenbergen also had five tackles—three solos and two for Panther losses. Harrison Wilson also had five tackles, and Zack Yates had a tackle for a loss among his four.
Also getting tackles were Anthony Dancer, Teon Morris, Jarrett Sears, Jacob Smock, Tristan Blake, Austin Costello, Bradley and Silvey.
Adler used 46 players in the game. Coach Mikie Benton sent 28 Panthers onto the field.
Senior quarterback Jacob Naylor completed 5 of 19 pass attempts for 98 yards and a touchdown. He was intercepted twice. Freshman Lennon Ries caught three of those passes for 87 yards and that TD. Ryan Flores and Jovari Gamble each added a reception.
Hunter McDowell, who was often hit hard while trying to punt, kicked the extra point. McDowell appeared to be seriously injured on one punt rush, but he recovered to help the Soccer Panthers win the All A regional the next day.
Ed Barber was the leading rusher for RHS with 38 yards on 12 carries. Also running the ball were Gamble, Naylor, Flores and Chevis Elliott.
Zavius Coleman was the leading Panther tackler with eight, including a tackle for a loss, while Flores and Elliott had the most solo tackles with six each while Flores was joined by Barber with seven tackles each. Ty Collins had four solo tackles with Robert Barnett and Ries adding three each Both of Nick Bollenbecker’s tackles went for Cougar losses.
Collins and Ries each pulled in an interception.
Also credited with tackles were Naylor, Ries, Kaleb Coursey, Kyran Williams, Jackson Hampton and Robert Skipworth.