With seconds to go, a dropped pass off the fingertips of a Lookout Valley receiver allowed the Copper Basin High School Cougar football team to end Senior Night October 3 as winners 20-19.
Ahead 20-13 with five minutes to go, Lookout Valley (LV) took control of the ball and drove 73 yards in 11 plays to score. It was on the two-point conversion the pass was bobbled that resulted in the Cougar win.
The Cougars led the entire contest. They scored early with a solid rushing attack. Basin had 39 rushes for 272 yards and two touchdowns.
Basin had 14 yards receiving with Dawson Pittman throwing once to Senior Logan Cochran for 14 yards.
“I thought the offensive line did a good job. For the most part, they were in a five-man front and they were sending blitzers. Our offensive line did a great job of making adjustments. The kids we have up front are very smart. They’ve done a great job all year,” said Cougar Head Coach Brett Graves.
While Basin’s defense held LV in check, Basin earned it’s first points halfway through the first quarter at 6:06.
It was on a 16-yard rushing touchdown by Drew Crowder. The two-play drive started as a result of a botched punt by Lookout Valley on it’s own 16 yard line. With no two-point conversion, Basin led 6-0 at the end of one quarter.
Basin would score again on at the 4:28 mark of the second quarter on a 25-yard fumble recovery touchdown by defensive guard Cooper Floyd. With no two-point conversion, Basin led 12-0. They carried this lead in halftime.
Lookout Valley started the third quarter with an eight-play 59 yard touchdown drive. At the 6:59 mark of the third quarter, Basin started it’s last scoring drive. Beginning on its own 45 yard line, the running combination of Crowder, Nathan Spencer and Nick Bird ran for 70 yards before the third quarter buzzer.
On the first play of the fourth quarter, Spencer scored a one-yard touchdown. He also scored the two-point conversion to lead 20-13.
This win sealed a playoff game for the Cougars. Graves said he isn’t sure who they will play, but it will likely be on the road. Copper Basin plays at Pickett County Friday night, October 17, in Byrdstown, Tennessee, at 7 p.m.