[NEWARKCATHOLICFAN]

The crowd was large but the noise level at times was very library like. Even with the home team the heavy favorite and playing well enough, to show everyone the game was not going to be in doubt for long. Maybe the home crowd knew this was going to be a win and in the 90 plus degree heat, they wanted to save their energy.

The Panthers methodically started a drive that would end up going for 17 plays and a total 78 yards to post its first score of the 2016 tackle football season. The drive started with a pass play and then one running play before two straight passes. It would have a fourth and two, at the Cougars six, with 4:14 left in the quarter. Te fourth down was converted into a first down on a #10 Wyatt Battaile powered his way to the first down. The score came on a three yard run by #11 Clay Stone, who muscled his way into the end zone. After a penalty on the Cougars,the Panthers went for two and got it when, #5 Evan Rhodes crossed the goal line. 8-0 Pikeville with 3:59 left in the quarter.

The Cougars would get a 44-yard gain on a nicely thrown ball by their talented quarterback, Nicholas Sergent to a very sure handed wide receiver Lucas Tanner. This combo could be dangerous all season long as long as emotions do not get in the way.
Sergent would be sacked by, #58 Gunner Edmonds for a three yard loss on a third and thirty four play, with 6.1 seconds left on the clock.

10:57 showed on the clock when, Battaile hooked up with Rhodes, who took a big hit from #4 Jordan Isaacs to pick up a nice little gain.
At the 8:47 mark Battaile took a five yard sack when he was taken down by #79 Triston Polly. Triston played a very nice game.
Stone took in a screen pass, but loss three yards when he was taken down very quickly, with 8:47 left in the half.
Pikeville would have to give the ball up a short time later.

With 3:47 remaining in the half Stone was covering Tanner very tightly and came away with the pick on a very nice play.

Stone would show off his pass catching skills at the 3:33 mark as he picked up eleven yards. The tackle was made by Polly.
With 2:18 left the game really had a different look because Lucas was ejected after his 3nd personal foul of the game. Losing a weapon like this would hurt any offense.

With 2:10 left in the half Battaile found Stone for a 18-yard score.. #9 Campbell Dawahare took a direct snap and rushed into the end zone to make this a,16-0 Pikeville lead.

#3 Tyler Elkins tackled #2 Blake Brashears after a catch and forced him to a three yard loss,with 20.9 seconds left in the half.

At the 10:41 mark of the third quarter Sergent was pounded into the ground by #54 Braden Kendall for a big time sack.


Pikeville faced a 4th and 8 with 7:29 left in the quarter, when Battaile moved around in the pocket and found #7 Andrew McNamee wide opened for a 40 yard score. Dawahare made it a 23-0 game with his point after kick.

After getting the ball back, Pikeville Battaile put the ball on the ground, but Rhodes made the recovery, keeping the ball with the Panthers.
At the 4:31 mark of the quarter Rhodes busted of a 57-yard run and had 15-yards tacked on after another Cougar penalty.
The last play of the quarter was a four yard gain on third and three by Battaile, to give the Panthers a first and goal, to start the fourth quarter.

Five seconds into the final stanza Battaile plowed in from three yards out, after the point after kick this was a,30-0 game.

Pikeville got two sacks on Sergent on the next Cougar drive. The first occurred with 11:19 left in the game and it was by Dewahare, with the second one made by Elkins.

The Cougars would get a sack on Battaile at the 9:00 mark, when #18 Christian Broderdoph along with #36 Avery Stamper got to the multi dimensional quarterback.

The Cougars were able to avoid the shutout when,#43 Jayson Buttrey scored from five yards out to make this a,30-6 game.Brashears was stopped by Elkins on the two point conversion try.


UNOFFICIAL STATS

COUGARS
61 plays, 198 yards
passing 11-22 1INT

Panthers
59 plays 279 yards
passing 17-28 2 TD'S