The Hancock County Hornets dug out of an early hole Friday against Trigg County and left the Wildcats staring at a deep hole in the Class 3A District 1 race.
The Hornets overcame an early 14-0 deficit to beat the Wildcats 51-28 at Purdue Field. The loss drops Trigg County to 2-4 overall, but more importantly, 0-2 in the newly configured six-team 1st district. In all likelihood, the Wildcats will have to win two of its final three district games to make the playoffs.
Hancock County, which came into the game averaging 85 rushing yards and 26 attempts a game ran the football 49 times Friday for 263 yards — 30 of those attempts came in the second half for 168 yards.
It was Trigg County that got off to a strong start, taking the opening kick 65 yards in 5:55 and scoring a touchdown on the 12th play. Jhaden Vaughn caught a four-yard pass from Jerimyah Shearer for an early 7-0 Wildcat lead.
Trigg’s defense held on downs on Hancock County’s first drive. Shearer then found a wide-open Clayton Bellows on the right sideline while scrambling out of the pocket. Bellows got behind the Hancock defense for a 64-yard touchdown and a 14-0 Wildcat lead with 1:31 to go in the first quarter.
Trigg’s defense was poised to hold Hancock off the board again when the Hornets were faced with a fourth and seven at the Trigg County 31. However, a roughing the passer penalty on the Wildcats kept the drive alive and Aiden Weatherholt ran it in from 16 yards on the next play for Hancock’s first score.
Hancock got the ball back after a short Trigg County punt and drove 62 yards on nine plays. Dylan Morris scored his second rushing touchdown of the season on a one-yard plunge to tie the game at 14 with 4:-45 left in the first half.
The Hornets got the football back when Cooper Davis picked off a Shearer pass and returned it 67 yards to the Wildcat 8-yard line. Four plays later, Weatherholt scored from 8 yards out. to put the Hornets ahead 22-14, a score that would stand at halftime.
Hancock opened the second half with another 9-play, 62-yard drive, capped by a four-yard scoring run by Landen Garrison.
Down 30-14, Trigg County responded when Shearer hit Vaughn across the middle and the senior receiver broke several tackles on his way to a 33-yard touchdown.
On Hancock’s next play, Vaughn picked off a Morris pass and returned it 38 yards for a touchdown to draw Trigg to within 30-28.
However, the Hornets responded with an eight-play scoring drive that ended with Weatherholt’s third touchdown of the night, this one coming from three yards out.
A Trigg County three-and-out to end the third quarter gave Hancock good field position to begin the fourth quarter. Weatherholt’s fourth touchdown of the night was from 10 yards out and gave the Hornets a two-touchdown lead.
Weatherholt, who had five carries for 50 yards entering Friday, finished with 154 yards in 23 carries.
Late in the game down 44-28, Trigg was forced to go for it on fourth down deep in its own territory and turned the ball back over on downs with 1:48 left.
Hancock County ran three plays and Chris Gillespie punched in a three-yard touchdown with 25 seconds left. It was the second straight week a Wildcat opponent scored a meaningless touchdown inside the final minute with its starters.
Hancock County racked up 22 first downs and 355 yards of offense — well above its season average of 291.
Devaree Gude, who has had a pair of 200-plus-yard rushing games this year, was held under 100 yards for the second straight game. He finished with 15 carries for 84 yards. Shearer added 50 yards on 12 carries and was 11 of 17 passing for 128 yards and was picked off twice.
Trigg’s offense managed 95 second-half yards and just two first downs.
Trigg County, along with Hopkins County Central — a 35 -28 loser to Webster County — are 0-2 in the district. Trigg’s next opponent is Union County, who polished off McLean County Friday night 42-30 to jump to 2-0 in the district along with Webster County.
Hancock County and McLean County are both 1-1
After next Friday’s home game with Union County, the Wildcats will host Hopkins County Central in two weeks ahead of a bye week.
