A ball-control ground game and an opportunistic defense helped Caldwell County keep possession of the 139 Bowl traveling trophy for another year.
Jamus Carneyhan ran for 169 yards and a score while Luke Parker found the end zone twice as the Tigers blanked Trigg County 19-0 in the rivalry contest Friday night at Tiger Stadium in Princeton.
Caldwell has taken 10 straight from the Wildcats and has owned possession of the 139 Bowl trophy ever since the first bowl game in 2013.
The Tigers also spoiled Trigg’s bid for its 400th win in the program’s existence. The Wildcats, 7-3 this season, will attempt to reach that milestone next week with their Class 3A playoff trip to Hart County.
Caldwell, which received an unexpected gift earlier in the week when Christian County was forced to forfeit its win over the Tigers in the season opener, will carry a 5-5 record into its home playoff game against McLean County next week.
Caldwell scored on its opening possession of the night against Trigg.
Starting from their own 20, the Tigers needed eight plays to cover 80 yards. The big play was a 42-yard pass connection from Parker to Logan Chambliss. Carneyhan finished off the march with a 3-yard touchdown carry to the right side. That came at the 2:37 mark of the first quarter and put Caldwell up 6-0 after the PAT missed to the left.
An 11-play, 75-yard drive helped put the Tigers in control just before halftime.
The Tigers converted their only third down on the drive on an 11-yard run by Carneyhan. Parker carried the ball into the end zone around the right side on 2nd-and-goal from the 8 with just 27 seconds left in the first half. Timothy Nichols kicked the extra point to give Caldwell a 13-0 edge at the break.
Both teams had lengthy drives in the third quarter but failed to put up points. Each side had the ball just once in the period — Caldwell missed a 42-yard field goal while Trigg turned the ball over on downs after reaching the Tiger 7-yard line.
Taking over at its own 8, Caldwell put the game away with another sustained series. The Tigers used 14 plays to cover 92 yards — and ate 8:09 off the clock.
Parker again capped the drive with a 1-yard keeper, extending the ball over the goal line while being slung to the ground. That came with just 2:55 left in the game and extended the margin to 19-0.
Trigg’s final drive of the night came up a yard short at the Caldwell 28. The Wildcats had the ball just twice in the second half.
Caldwell outgained Trigg 319-215 yards in the contest.
The Tigers ran for 192 yards while Parker was a perfect 11-for-11 in the air for another 127 yards. Chambliss had three receptions for 65 yards.
Jerimyah Shearer ran for 64 yards for Trigg and also passed for 88 yards. Kelsey Parham, Trigg’s leading rusher this season, was limited to 60 yards on 18 carries.
The Wildcats totaled 124 yards on the ground and 91 in the air.
Trigg’s offense has struggled to find the end zone since quarterback Jacob Wease was injured. Without the school’s all-time leading passer, the Wildcats have managed just two touchdowns in the last 10 quarters.
The Wildcats were also denied their first 8-2 start since 2006.
Caldwell enters postseason play with wins in four of its last five games.
