The Breckinridge County Tigers held on Thursday night to down the Grayson County Cougars 15-12 in Harned.
Despite holding a statistical advantage over the Tigers, it was the fact that Breck converted extra points twice and the Cougars didn’t following their two touchdowns that was the difference in the game.
The Cougars outrushed the Tigers 167 yards to 76, and held a 161 yards to 123 advantage through the air. Senior quarterback Kaylor Decker led the Cougars with 113 yards on 20 carries. Decker also completed 15 of 21 passes for 161 yards and one touchdown. Michael Wood rushed 10 times for 39 yards and one score.
Senior Hunter Tomes caught seven passes for 100 yards and one touchdown.
The Cougars turned the ball over on downs on their first two possessions in the first period, the first time at the Tiger 36. and the second time at the Tiger 12 following a 13-play drive.
The Tigers took that second turnover 88 yards in nine plays to take an 8-0 lead. Jacob Henning scored on a 20-yard pass play from quarterback Kiyren Watkins at the 8:11 mark of the second period.
The Cougars missed an opportunity to score just before the half, moving from their own 45 down to the Tiger five when time expired. The half ended with Breck holding onto their 8-0 advantage.
Breck had the ball to start the second half, but on a third-and-nine play from the Cougar 49 sophomore Jeren Van Meter intercepted a Watkins pass and returned it 10 yards to the Tiger 46.
Eight plays later Wood carried in from the four-yard line to put the Cougars on the board. A two-point try failed and the Cougars trailed 8-6 with 5:21 left in the period.
Breck then moved 80 yards in seven plays with senior James Spitzer scoring on a 50-yard pass play from a scrambling Watkins with 44 second left in the third quarter. Senior Sydney Tucker added the extra point to make it 15-6.
Grayson County took over at their own 30 with 39 second left in the third period and moved 70 yards in eight plays, with Decker hitting Tomes for the score from 16 yards out with 8:36 left to play.
The Cougars then tried an unsuccessful onside kick, giving the Tigers the ball at midfield with 8:23 remaining. The Tigers moved to a first down at the 13 yard line before being stopped on downs at the six.
Grayson County was then 94 yards away from taking the lead with 2:35 left in the game. Decker then got his passing game in gear and moved to a fourth-and-goal at the Breck five with 12 seconds left.
Grayson set up to try a game-tying, 22-yard field goal with 12 seconds left, but the snap was high and Breck took over with eight-tenths of a second left. A kneel down ended the game.
By Don Brown, Local Sports
Reach Don at donbrown@k105.com
