The Copper Basin Cougar football team made the trek to Meigs County Friday, October 8, to take on the number one ranked in 2A Region three Tigers.
The Tigers headed into the game as the number 52 team in the state of Tennessee. The Tigers were too much for the Cougars to handle as they fell to Meigs 66-8.
Running Back Sebastian Balilies fought for 65 rushing yards, while quarterback Joe Boggs was able to muscle 51 rushing yards and one touchdown.
Meigs received the ball to start the game as they started from the Cougars 37 yard line after the Cougars’ failed onside kick attempt.
The Tigers put the ball on the ground and was later able to score on a four-yard touchdown run and after the two-point conversion led 8-0 with 10:09 to go in the first.
Balilies brought the kickoff out to their own 42-yard line as Boggs led the Cougar offense on the field. The Cougars could not generate any offense and were forced to punt.
Meigs County returned the punt back for a touchdown and after the failed extra point, led the Cougars 14-0 with 8:30 to go in the first quarter.
Copper Basin got the ball back at their own 25-yard line as Copper Basin took the field. The Cougars could not move the sticks and were forced to punt back to the Tigers.
Meigs brought the kick to the Cougars’ 37-yard line. A few plays later the Tigers found the endzone on a 19-yard touchdown pass. After the missed extra point, the Tigers led 20-0 with 6:56 to go in the first quarter.
Balilies brought the kick out to the Cougar 48-yard line to generate some momentum for Copper Basin. After a sack and incomplete pass, the Cougars were in fourth and 11 territory. Meigs County was flagged for holding to make it fourth and one and the Cougars went for it.
Boggs muscled his way through a few defenders with help from the Cougar offensive line to give the Cougars a fresh set of downs.
Copper Basin pushed to the Tigers’ 46 yard line before going for it on fourth down and failing to convert. Meigs County took over from their own 45 yard line. A few plays later the Tigers scored on a three yard run and after the good extra point led 27-0 with 1:23 to go in the first.
The Tigers were able to score two more times in the second quarter to make it 40-0 with 4:48 to play in the half. Balilies brought the kickoff back to the Cougar 40 yard line to set the Cougar offense up.
Balilies gained five yards on a nice run, before Boggs threw a nice ball and Meigs was flagged for pass interference to put the Cougars at the Meigs 40 yard line.
After a one yard run, Boggs loaded up and found speedy wideout Cade Dean for a 10 yard catch to put the Cougars at the 29 yard line.
Balilies started to get things going on the ground, making it to the 19-yard line with 1:03 to go in the first half.
Boggs threw a nice ball to Dean, but the Tigers were able to break up the would-be touchdown. The Cougars could not score before time expired as Meigs led 40-0 at halftime.
The Tigers were able to score twice in the third to increase their lead 52-0, before Joe Boggs was able to break off a big run and score a touchdown with nine minutes to go in the fourth.
Boggs converted the two-point conversion to slice into the Tiger lead 52-8.
Meigs found the endzone two more times in the fourth before time expired to come away with a 66-8 victory over Copper Basin.
Boggs led the defense with five tackles, while Addison Hook had four tackles and Taylor Coleman along with Eli White had two tackles each.
Copper Basin will be back at home Friday, October 15, as they host the Bradley Knights. It will also be homecoming for Copper Basin. Kickoff is slated for 7:30 p.m.