ECHS Football Season Ends, Goals Still Accomplished

Darren Doyle
The scoreboard said 42-3 at the end of the game on Friday night as the Wildcats were defeated in the first round of the AAA Playoffs against top-rated Paducah Tilghman High, but there was much more to the season than that particular score.

The Wildcats knew they were facing a tough battle against PTHS, but as in all sports, anything can happen, unfortunately for the Cats, it didn't.

Tilghman got on the board first with a touchdown and extra point with just over three minutes left in the first quarter to lead 7-0. They were able to do the same again just as the second quarter started to grab a 14-0 lead.

Only minutes later, the Wildcats found themselves in terrible field position but things got worse when Tilghman intercepted a pass and took the 2 yard touchdown and extra point for a 21-0 lead. Tilghman was able to score again on a 3 yard rushing touchdown and an extra point to put the Cats in a deeper hole of 28-0 with about six minutes to go in the half.

ECHS got on the board with a 30 yard field goal by Brett Brannon just before halftime as the Cats were down 28-3 at the break. 

The Wildcats simply couldn't get anything going as Paducah Tilghman continued to roll on to a 42-3 victory ending the 2015 Football season for ECHS. 

Head Coach Kyle Pierce only had good things to say. "Paducah Tilghman has a tremendous team and are highly ranked for a reason," he said. "We were in position to make plays, but they were able to use their athleticism to make things difficult for us. We moved the ball at times, but we made some mistakes that ended drives or put us in bad down and distance situations. I thought our kids played hard, but they were just a better team than us this year."

Pierce focused on the positives that this Wildcat team accomplished for the 2015 season. "This group got us back to where we need to be. We had a winning record, made the playoffs, and competed in games. We beat our rival Grayson County and brought the Tobacco Stick back to Brownsville and hopefully it stays here for a while. We were a very young bunch this year, and some got thrown in a little early, but they got a lot of experience for upcoming years."

As the team moves forward, they'll do it without seven seniors, who Pierce has repeatedly praised throughout the year. "I am proud of this senior class. They were an unselfish bunch. Whatever was asked of them, they did. They wanted to win. They wanted to go out with a winning record and get us back on the right road. They left this place in better shape than it was."

The Wildcats finish the season with a winning record of 6-5, and although the success of sports teams is measured in trophies, championship rings, and lengths of seasons, Pierce eluded to more.

"We always talk about how you will be remembered," he said. "There are always moments you would love to have back, but in the end, you will be remembered in a negative or positive light. These guys wanted to be good teammates and treat people right. That means a lot."

The Edmonson Voice salutes the 2015 ECHS Football team, Coach Pierce and his staff, the players, supporters, and our Wildcats Live broadcast team of Scott Lindsey and Bryan Thompson. Thanks for a great season and we look forward to more.