The Grayson County Cougar football team closed the preseason last Friday evening with a 41-16 loss to Spencer County.
Grayson County had a rough start to the game with a tipped pass turning into an interception on their first play and the second drive starting with a poor snap that flew over the head of quarterback Kolby Chaffins. Both of those mistakes led to an early 14-0 Bears lead and a deficit the Cougars couldn’t overcome.
They would score a touchdown on a short run by Kadin Hanshaw right before the break before freshman Trigg Payne scrambled for a 60+ yard score in the second half.
“I think the drive that we scored on was a really good drive,” head coach Bryan Jones said. “I thought we executed well on those things. The veer looked good, and some of our pass stuff looked good. We are still going to have to do a better job in the run game.”
With Friday being one of the first true games the Cougars have played since November, some of the holes left by last year’s seniors began to take shape even more.
“I felt like we didn’t play on the outside of our defense very well,” Jones said.”Most of (Spencer County’s) big stuff came off the edge. You know, they could dive up the middle and run that little end around play or they’d run buck sweep. It really makes you reflect on how talented the line was last year and how talented Jeren VanMeter and Kenton Cornwell were, because that was two things that most people just weren’t going to do on us.”
One of the aspects Grayson County is looking for is more consistency.
“There are times we look really, really good, and at times we look really, really bad,” Jones added. “We’ve got to get more consistent and we’ve got to do things more disciplined, do what you’re supposed to do when you’re supposed to do it and how we want you to do it.”
Last season’s team featured multiple strong leaders with most graduating and leaving another void.
“You know the ones that are sitting there going. I don’t like this. I don’t like the way this feels. I don’t like the way that went,” Jones said on looking for new leaders. “It’s not enough just to change yourself, leadership and great teammates are going to find a way to change their teammates as well.”
Grayson County will open the 2024 regular season on Friday at 7:00 pm as they host Edmonson County in the annual Tobacco Bowl.
By Sam Gormley, Play-By-Play Announcer/Local Sports
Reach Sam at sam@k105.com
