The goal for Trigg County ahead of Friday’s season opener was 1-0. Not just for the first game but the days leading up to it.
Winning the week equaled winning on Friday as the Wildcats opened with a 39-21 win at Calloway County. It was Trigg’s fifth season-opening win in the past seven years and was Trigg’s second straight over the Lakers.
“It’s been no excuses throughout the whole preseason. So that 1-0 thing was something I brought in on Monday and I said ‘Look, we want to go 1-0 on Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday. If we go 1-0 all those days, we’re going to be in good shape this week,” Wildcat coach Chris Ezell said.
Trigg County got off to a good start with a 10-play, 78-yard scoring drive that saw the Wildcats covert on third down twice and was capped by a two-yard touchdown run by Davaree Gude. The junior who rushed for 1,000 yards last year finished with 65 yards on 11 carries.
It was part of a 236-yard rushing night behind a patchwork Trigg County offensive line that was missing two starters due to injury.
After Calloway County answered in the second quarter when sophomore quarterback Matthew Briedwell found Caleb Collins on an 11-yard scoring pass.
However, the Wildcats came right back when freshman quarterback Timmy Williams hit Gude on a screen pass that resulted in a 48-yard touchdown.
Trigg was able to keep its 14-7 lead by halftime as they came up with a defensive stand when the Lakers were driving to the 10-yard line and the clock ran out.
The Wildcats went up 20-7 inside the final minute of the third quarter when Williams called his own number and scored from nine yards out.
Williams later added a four-yard touchdown run that extended Trigg’s lead to 26-7.
In his first varsity game, Williams finished with 105 rushing yards on 13 carries and was 7-of-10 passing for 116 yards.
“He’s a dynamic kid. If you want him to do something, you know, he usually does it. But at the same time, he’s got these instincts that you can’t coach. The kid is special. He’s a great kid,” Ezell said.
Ahmari Alexander and Joshuan Bridges scored on touchdown runs to extend Trigg’s lead to 39-14.
Trigg County outgained Calloway County 352-252 and the Wildcat defense held the Lakers to 85 yards on 27 rushing attempts.
Ezell felt Trigg’s advantage up front widened as the game progressed.
“Attrition got us, but I think it hit them a little harder. I thought we were in better shape and that has been an emphasis this whole season,” Ezell said. “I didn’t feel like we were in good shape last year. We were honest with the guys. We have to be better at that. And I think they felt the same way.”
Briedwell was 15-of-22 passing for 167 yards for the Lakers, with two of his three touchdown passes going to Jay-Dynn Darcus.
Trigg County improved its series record against Calloway County to 11-8, including a 6-2 mark at Jack Rose Stadium.
The Wildcats will play at Barren County next Friday. The Trojans were a 54-14 winner over Metcalfe County in their opener Friday.
TRIGG COUNTY 39 CALLOWAY COUNTY 21
SCORING SUMMARY
TC – Davaree Gude 2-yard run (Brody Renfroe kick), 6:30, 1Q – Trigg Co. 7 Calloway Co. 0
CC – Caleb Collins 11-yard pass from Matthew Briedwell (Riley Hudson kick), 6:12, 2Q – Trigg County 7 Calloway Co. 7
TC – Gude 48-yard pass from Timmy Williams (Renfroe kick), 5:19, 2Q – Trigg Co. 14 Calloway Co. 7
TC – Williams 9-yard run (kick failed), 0:56, 3Q – Trigg Co. 20 Calloway Co. 7
TC – Williams 4-yard run (run failed), 9:28, 4Q – Trigg Co. 26 Calloway Co. 7
TC – Ahmari Alexander 1-yard run (run failed), 7:25, 4Q – Trigg Co. 32 Calloway Co. 7
CC – Jay-Dynn Darcus 23-yard pass from Briedwell (Hudson kick), 5:11, 4Q – Trigg Co. 32 Calloway Co. 14
TC – Joshuan Bridges 4-yard run (Renfroe kick), 1:49, 4Q – Trigg Co. 39 Calloway Co. 14
CC – Darcus 10-yard pass from Briedwell (Hudson kick), 0:11, 4Q – Trigg Co. 39 Calloway Co. 21
GAME STATS
RUSHING
Trigg 39-236
Calloway 27-85
PASSING
Trigg 7-10-1, 116 yards
Calloway 15-22-0, 167 yards
TOTAL YARDS
Trigg 352
Calloway 252
FIRST DOWNS
Trigg 24
Calloway 17
PENALTIES
Trigg 10-91
Calloway 10-100
PUNTS
Trigg 1-32.0
Calloway 4-20.0
THIRD DOWN CONVERSIONS
Trigg 2/6
Calloway 4/11
FOURTH DOWN CONVERSIONS
Trigg 1/2
Calloway 3/3
TIME OF POSSESSION
Trigg 26:06
Calloway 21:54
INDIVIDUAL STATS
RUSHING – Trigg – Williams 13-105; Gude 11-65; Bridges 8-44; Alexander 7-22
Calloway – Smith 12-59; Briedwell 11-18; Darcus 1-4; Phillips 2-3; McIntosh 1-1
PASSING – Trigg – Williams 7-10-1, 116 yards
Calloway – Briedwell 15-22-0, 167 yards
RECEIVING – Trigg – Bridges 2-52; Gude 2-52; P. Williams 2-7; Bellows 1-5
Calloway – Phillips 5-24; Haugh 3-54; Darcus 3-43; Smith 2-13; Tudor 1-23; Collins 1-11
One Response
Would you please end me the post game interviews? My son is Aiden Goodwin and I didn’t get to listen to it when broadcasted.