With an undefeated 5A team coming into Fryar Stadium on Friday night, the 0-3 Fort Campbell football team appeared to be a big underdog. However, it was apparent from their first drive the Falcons wouldn’t back down from Grayson County, eventually seeing a final drive come up empty and falling 22-14 to the Cougars.
The Falcons got going quickly when quarterback Matt Middleton hit Jordan Edwards for a 24-yard touchdown, while the Fort Campbell defense didn’t allow a first down on the Cougars’ first two possessions and led 7-0 after the first quarter.
Grayson County benefited from a Falcon personal foul on a third-and-long, keeping alive a drive that would end in an 8-yard touchdown run for Cougar quarterback Logan Cobb with 9:59 left in the half.
The Falcons made a mistake fielding the ensuing kickoff and Grayson County took advantage of the good field position to tack on a 32-yard Logan Raymer field goal for a 10-7 edge. The Cougars got some breathing room with just over four minutes left in the half when Cobb found the endzone from a yard out and a 17-6 halftime lead.
Fort Campbell closed to 16-14 just two minutes into the second half on a 15-yard scoring run by Octavious Mahogany and were still within two points when Middleton recovered a fumble to give the Falcons possession on their own 30 with 6:17 left in the game.
However, his second-down pass was intercepted by Grayson’s Hunter Torres and returned 45 yards for a touchdown. The extra point failed and the Cougars led 22-14 with 5:25 to play.
Fort Campbell’s final drive began at its own 16, but after a catch and run by Ethan Tomerlin the Falcons got into Grayson County territory with 1:21 on the clock. After converting on 4th and three, Nathaniel Massey hauled in a catch down to the 13.
After an incomplete pass on first down, the Falcons took a final snap with :04 remaining, but Middleton’s pass to Edwards sailed out of the back of the end zone to end the game.
Grayson County did its damage on the ground, rushing 46 times for 146 yards, while the Falcons completed 23/36 passes for 241 yards and a touchdown. Fort Campbell outgained the Cougars 262 to 186, but were penalized nine times for 105 yards.
Edwards had 9 catches for 90 yards and a score to lead the Falcons, followed by Tomerlin with 7 for 95.