A September to Remember: Wildcats 3-1 For First Time in 9 Years With 34-14 Victory Over Bulldogs

Edmonson County senior running back Carter Swihart (88) scores a touchdown against visiting Clinton County Thursday September 26 in Brownsville.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
​Every school, every team, everywhere endures the experience. Losing records and down times. In the case of Edmonson County High School football, it has been nine years since the Wildcats went 3-1 in the month of September. They currently have four wins and two losses overall in 2024.
 
Nine years ago in 2015, current ECHS head coach Justin Vessels was an assistant for then head coach, and current ECHS athletic director Kyle Pierce.
 
Vessels said he knew the players had great work ethic and attitude when he was interviewed for the job last year, he said. 
 
It showed Thursday night September 26th in Brownsville against visiting Clinton County, when most games in the area were moved up a day due to the incoming rain and potential flooding across the state.
 
Last year, Sept. 22 2023, Clinton County defeated Edmonson County 26-6 in Clinton County.
 
This year, Edmonson County defeated Clinton County 34-14 in less than ideal and soggy conditions.
 
“I think we played a very physical game tonight,” Vessels said. “I thought offensively and defensively, our offensive and defensive line played well.”
 
They anticipated having different looks to deal with from the Bulldogs defense with their shifting lines, stunts and forms, Vessels said. But they worked on recognizing the different scenarios all week.
 
Though only up by one touchdown at the end of the first half, 21-14 for the Wildcats, they would shutout the Bulldogs in the second half.
 
“Coach (Tommy) Muse coached a great game on defense,” Vessels said. “He mixed the coverages so they couldn’t get comfortable.”
 
Vessels pointed out, like in Ohio County last week, 14 points were scored in the first half, but in the second, for second week, the opposing team was shut out in the third and fourth quarter. 
​

Edmonson County senior running back Carter Swihart (88) stretches his arms in celebration after running for a 47 yard touchdown against visiting Clinton County Thursday September 26 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County junior quarterback Tristen Muse (1) carries the ball against visiting Clinton County Thursday September 26 in Brownsville.

​The Bulldogs did not make it easy for the Wildcats, even in the second half.
 
Clinton County began with the ball in the second half and ran down more than nine minutes off the clock into the third quarter before giving the ball over after a failed fourth down and 12 pass play.
 
With the Wildcats opening play from their own 20-yard line with 2:50 on the clock, senior running back Carter Swihart broke through for a 40 yard run, to the Bulldogs 40. Junior quarter back Tristen Muse carried next on a keeper. Then Swihart again, then Muse, Swihart, Muse. Like a seesaw assault to end the third quarter still 21-14 in favor of Edmonson County.
The fourth quarter was dominated by Edmonson with two scores and the majority of the time of possession, able to hold off and regain control of the ball from a turn-over on downs from the Bulldogs a few times.
 
“That was big, being able to be physical and control the ball,” Vessels said about being able to score twice and control the ball and the scoreboard in the fourth quarter.
 
“This was just a big win for us tonight,” Vessels said. “I’m really proud and happy for our players that they’re getting to have some success for all the hard work they have done.”

Edmonson County offensive line works against visiting Clinton County Thursday September 26 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County junior defensive tackle Hunter Kinser (78) makes a tackle for a loss against visiting Clinton County Thursday September 26 in Brownsville.

​Tristen expressed his favorite thing for the evening was senior running back Carter Swihart’s four rushing touchdowns. He though the “O-line had really good blocks,” too.
 
“We played extremely good on defense,” Tristen said. “Especially the second half.”
 
When not tossing pitches, hand-offs or dropping back to pass, Tristen doubles as a linebacker on defense for the Wildcats.
 
“We didn’t know if we’d be able to stop the pass,” Muse said. “Rain helped.”
 
The whole team has showed improvement in completing tackles, despite the rain.
 
“Coach Vessels is an extraordinary coach,” Muse added after asked if there was anything he wanted to add. “He knows how to mix it up. He doesn’t let us get down. He keeps us movin’, keep our heads up.”
 
His favorite thing is that coach doesn’t let them get soft, he said. He makes sure we have good practices and makes sure we play even better in games.
 
Swihart ran for 242 yards on 23 carries according to the unofficial sats from the Edmonson County Voice Live broadcast Post Game Report. 
 
“It feels amazing,” Swihart said after the game. 
 
His favorite run of the game was the 47 yard touchdown, he said.
 
“I am having tons of fun right now,” Swihart said. “I mean, at the end of the day it’s how we work at practice. You could temm if you watched our first practice, to now. You could tell every single day we are coming in and getting better. Thts the main thing. Each week we are getting better, and it shows.
 
Indeed. It does.

Next for the Wildcats?
 
“The process doesn’t change,” Vessels said. “The process is the same every week. You know, if we win, we feel good about it for 24 hours, then we are on the next opponent. If we was to lose, we feel bad about it for 24 hours and then we are on to the next one.”
 
It’s what he thinks helps the team stay steady he said. They don’t get too high, nor too low. 
 
His secret to keeping everything all Goldy Locks? 
 
There isn’t one, Vessels said.  It is what you have to do to keep the boys in the right frame of mind.
 
“I love our attitude and our work ethic,” Vessels said. 
 
Edmonson County is home again next week against Fort Campbell October 4 at 7 p.m. in Brownsville. Last year Fort Campbell defeated Edmonson 37-8 at Fort Campbell.