The Christian County Colonels used smothering defense and just enough offense to top Caldwell County 11-6 in the Toyota of Hopkinsville Jerry Claiborne Bowl at the Stadium of Champions on Friday night. The Colonels were perceived to have lots of question marks coming into the season opener after graduating twenty-five seniors off last season’s 11-1 team, but it was the Tigers left looking for answers by the end of the night.
Neither offense got on the board in the first quarter, with the Tigers twice turning the ball over on downs in Colonel territory. The Colonels drove to the Caldwell 8 yard line, but turned it over on downs as well. Christian County took over on the Tigers’ 37 after a short punt with just inside of three minutes left in the first half. After a catch and run by Tyler West and a personal foul on Caldwell, the Colonels were in business with a first down at the Caldwell 8. On third down, JaDonavin McNeal found the end zone from 6 yards out for a 7-0 Colonel lead.
Due to a dead ball penalty on Christian County after the first half had expired, Caldwell kicked off from the Colonel 30 to start the second half. The Colonels took over on their own 1 yard line, and after a McNeal first-down run to the 13, they fumbled on a pitch and Caldwell’s Caleb Burden fell on it. However, the Colonels’ defense held, forcing a field goal try by Barett Schultz that he missed wide.
When the Tigers got the ball back after a punt, quarterback Joby Jaggers and wide receiver Travis Newsom went on the attack. Jaggers hit Newsom three times on the drive, with the last completion for a 9-yard touchdown. Schultz would miss the PAT, leaving the Tigers trailing 7-6.
With less than a minute left in the third quarter, L’Ray Coleman forced a Caldwell fumble and Kenyon Drayton came up with it, but the Colonel drive stalled. With 5:30 to play and the Tigers still trailing by a point, they took over on their own 28 after a punt. After two penalties and an illegal forward pass, the Tigers faced a 3rd and 33 from inside their own 5. Jaggers was pressured in the end zone and was called for intentional grounding, resulting in a safety for the Colonels and a 9-6 advantage.
Christian County punted on the ensuing possession, pinning Caldwell deep on its own 1 yard line. On 4th down, the Colonels’ Jase Polley brought down Jaggers in the end zone for another safety, sealing the victory at 11-6.
The Colonels will look to move to 2-0 next Friday with a trip to Tennessee to face Rossview. Caldwell will be on the road as well, traveling to Mayfield to take on the 1-0 Graves County Eagles.
