Fort Campbell returned to the football field for the first time in two years Friday. Trigg County won the game 48-16, but the Falcons’ return was a win for an athletic program trying to rebuild from a rebuilding period.
DoDEA handed down COVID guidance in 2020 that kept contact sports football, soccer, basketball, and wrestling at Fort Campbell and Fort Knox from competing in an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Football was given the green light at Fort Campbell in the spring. The road back from a year off moving forward will be a tough one.
Trigg County opened the game with a six-play drive capped by a 1-yard run by Kendric Adams.
On its first drive, Fort Campbell fumbled the snap on three straight plays resulting in losses. On fourth down, the snap sailed out of bounds for a safety and a 10-0 Wildcat lead.
Trigg County added two more touchdowns in the first quarter on scoring catches by Jermiyah Shearer for nine and six yards. Trigg led 26-0 after the first 12 minutes of play.
After throwing for a pair of scores, Jacob Wease ran in a touchdown from seven yards out. The junior quarterback was 10-of-17 passing for 126 yards.
Wease connected with Dillion Skinner on a 19-yard touchdown pass in the second quarter for his third TD of the half.
Trigg County totaled 187 yards in the first half while limiting Fort Campbell to -40 yards.
With a running clock in the second half, Trigg finished its scoring when TayShaun Linton picked up a Fort Campbell fumble and returned it 44 yards for a touchdown.
The Falcons were able to move the football against Trigg’s reserves with Darrion Hutson rushing for 30 yards and two touchdowns in the second half. He scored on runs of 13 and 12 yards.
Fort Campbell ran for 81 yards in the second half and finished with 77 yards of total offense.
Quarterback Patrick Hayes led the Falcon ground game with 36 yards on eight carries. He also completed three passes for 29 yards.
The win marks the first time in the 47-game series that Trigg County has won four straight games against Fort Campbell. The Falcons still lead the all-time series 30-17.
12 years removed from winning the third of three straight Class 2A state championships, the Falcons are in rebuilding mode after dropping 33 of their previous 37 games. However, Fort Campbell has a roster of 46 players and the support of a boisterous crowd who remained engaged throughout the contest at Fryar Stadium.
Fort Campbell will play Fort Knox in the annual Army Bowl next week at Fort Knox — a game that obviously takes on added meaning coming a week after the 20th anniversary of 9/11 and a year after a lost season due to COVID.
Trigg County improves to 2-2 and will play its home opener Friday against LaRue County. The Sept. 17 game will be the latest home opener for the Wildcats since 1992.
