The Logan County Cougars hope the presence of many former Cougar gridders will help them earn an elusive first victory in a while Friday night.
Athletic Director Greg Howard and Coach Steve Duncan have invited former LCHS football players to a reception in their honor in the school’s Commons Area, starting at 5 p.m. and to the game without paying admission. They will get a name tag and be recognized during the game.
Howard hopes these guys, some of whom are approaching 50 years old, will help return a winning tradition. “Please help us promote the one thing that is so dear to my heart “Cougar Pride”. I know we all like sayings and I’ve used many of them. “Cougar Pride” is not just a saying to me, but character and commitment to greatness,” he says.
Muhlenberg County, which is now in the state’s largest classification following the consolidation of Muhlenberg South and Muhlenberg North, has lost eight of its last nine games. The Mustangs started 3-0 last year and then went 4-7 the rest of the year while playing in Class 6A. Last week Coach Hays Browning’s team lost 35-14 at Owensboro Apollo.
The Cougars fell 46-6 at Butler County last week. It was their 24th straight loss. The last win for a Logan team came on Oct. 12, 2012, at Barren County. The Cougars are 2-30 since beating Russellville 32-21 on Oct. 28, 2011 at Rhea Stadium in the last game of that season. Three full seasons and one more game have passed since then.
Logan County is in Class 4A now after having spent what seems like a lifetime in Class 5A with powerful Bowling Green and Warren Central. Their 4A district is still challenging, but on page the other district from this area, which includes Franklin-Simpson and South Warren, seems like one of the best in the state in any class.
The Cougars seemed on the verge of leading in last week’s game early. A long kickoff return by Robert Dancer plus two runs of over 30 yards by Billy Vick and another rushing play gave them a first-and-goal inside the 10. But they couldn’t punch the ball over the goal line, particularly after a delay-of-game penalty.
The Bears took over after that behind star quarterback Rex Henderson, who actually scored the game’s first points on a long interception return. On the night Henderson threw for four touchdowns, going 17 of 25 in the air for 182 yards. He also rushed for 44 yards a touchdown, so he was part of six TDs on the evening.
Logan scored when Dancer intercepted a pass, and A.J. Sydnor went 49 yards on a rushing play. That cut the Bears’ lead to 26-6, but Butler scored three more times, two of them coming on Henderson strikes to Blake Graham.
Vick finished with 98 yards on the ground for the Cougars on 16 runs. Sydnor carried the ball 18 times for 64 yards. Ryan Flores had 15 yards on seven carries, and Austin Gregory gained 13 on his only try. The Cougars had an impressive 169 yards on the ground.
The Cougars threw only four passes, three by freshman Nate Woodall and one by Flores. None were completed.
Kickoff is at 7 p.m.