Comparative scores make it difficult for those making predictions to believe tonight’s annual Clash of the Cats can be competitive. Yet those who have watched the Logan County Cougars in their building/rebuilding process on a regular basis believe the youngsters are on the verge of becoming a much better team than they have shown the last two seasons.
The Russellville Panthers travel the five or so miles to LCHS tonight for their yearly football Clash with the Cougars. Game time is 7 p.m. with the pregame show on WRUS starting 30 minutes earlier.
The Panthers are in the midst of one of those great streaks they compile a couple of times every decade. They were the second best team in Class A last year. Unfortunately, the best team in that small enrollment category, Mayfield, is in their district and region. Coach John Myers’ team is off to a 3-0 start in 2014.
The most chilling statistics for Cougar fans involve games with Butler County. The Bears opened the season by scoring 41 points in the first half at LCHS. Last week, the Panthers beat Butler County 35-6. It’s easy to make the case that Russellville could be a 10-touchdown favorite tonight. In fact, the Panthers won last year’s game at Rhea Stadium 69-0.
Yet the Cougars, who have lost 16 straight games, enjoy loyal support from their fans. A Facebook group called LCHS Football Family has 131 members, many of whom post messages daily encouraging the players and talking about how proud they are of the Cougars for their efforts and their attitudes. Shannon Silvey Williamson is the unofficial leader of this group, and it’s hard to imagine anyone more dedicated to a team than she has been. Parents bring food to practices often and feed the team on Friday, usually at Crittenden Drive Church of Christ.
Mike Hoots, one of the assistant principals at LCHS and a former coach in the system, says he sees improvement in the team each week and is encouraged by the progress the players are making.
Everyone is impressed with new head coach Steve Duncan, who was immensely successful as the Murray High School head coach until this year. A very spiritual man, Duncan has caused many parents to feel fortunate to have their sons being led and counseled by him.
In acknowledging the mistakes that some of the players made in a loss at Franklin-Simpson last week, he told WRUS’ Chris McGinnis, “Jesus was the only perfect man. All the rest of us make mistakes. And many things that I saw us doing wrong came from my not having done enough to teach the players how to avoid them.”
Even last year, which then-Coach Dain Gregory’s team was being pummeled by the opponents, people who watched the Cougars were impressed by how hard the players tried, how they never gave up, and what nice guys they are.
“I like Russellville’s team. Russellville has some great players,” he told McGinnis. “Our guys are good young men trying to become great players. They make me proud. They make me happy. I wouldn’t want to work with any other group.”
The LoJo has not received updated statistics from the Logan County team. We know that sophomore Tyler Wright and junior Joseph Olliges have been alternating at quarterback, as they did in 2013. Jarrett Hamilton, who also played quarterback last year, is now a tight end. Senior Kaleb Coursey is a threat as a receiver and a runner. He scored the team’s only offensive touchdown so far at F-S. Backs the coaches have been calling on extensively include Anthony Oberhausen, Luke Woodall, and the versatile Chase Williamson. Back Lorenzo Garcia was injured in the first game. Center Connor McColpin is a maintstay of the line.
“Logan County has played a tremendous schedule,” Myers says of the Cougars. “South Warren and Franklin-Simpson are better than the other two teams we’ve played, Trigg County and Fort Campbell. They’re battle tested and they’re getting better each week. The game is at Logan and there will be lots of distractions. We’d better come to play.”
The Panthers have been “coming to play.” They’ve outscored their three opponents 100-53, including 44-6 in the first half. They allowed the Bears just 135 yards last week, and about 45 of that came on one run. They’ve only turned the ball over four times, and one of them was on an onside kick.
Three backs have totaled over 200 yards on the ground in these three weeks. Senior fullback Desmon Quarles, whom Duncan considers a college prospect, has carried the ball 54 times for 329 yards and 6 touchdowns. Sophomore Johnny Drumgole has run 22 times for 229 yards and 3 TDs. Josh Bigbee has 217 yards and a score on 32 carries.
Quarterback Coco Darden, who Duncan thinks would be a good defensive back for Murray State, has rushed for 140 yards and a touchdown on 22 carries, and he has completed 11 of 23 passes for 270 yards and 3 touchdowns. Lee McMurry has caught 7 passes for 169 yards and a score. M.J. Jones’ only catch went for 27 yards a touchdown. Jacob Procter’s pair of catches have gone for 61 yards and a TD. T.K. Hampton is Darden’s backup.
“Someone asked me at halftime why we don’t throw the ball more,” Myers told WRUS’ John Brett Reynolds, “but I’m happy where we are. We’re getting almost 100 yards a game passing, so that keeps the defense honest, but we’ve got the running backs to control the ball and the game.”
Milam Watkins has kicked 4 extra points in 5 attempts.
Jacory Bard is the leading tackler with 20, one ahead of Darden. He also is credited with 3 sacks. Drumgole has 2 sacks and Procter 1 while Josh Bigbee and Logan Hannah have shared a sack. Drumgole also has made 2 interceptions, returning one for a touchdown. Bard is credited with 4 tackles for losses while Quarles had 3. Drumgole, Jaylin McMurry, Bigbee and Hannah have one each. Hannah also has a fumble recovery.
Three Panthers are either out or doubtful for tonight’s game. They are Brian Clinard, Spencer Stratton and Procter.
Andy and Zack Woodall will call the game live on WRUS and on https://www.network1sports.com/station/wrus tonight. A replay will be aired Saturday at 2 p.m. featuring Reynolds and McGinnis