Interceptions Hurt Cats in 21-6 Loss to Muhlenberg County

Konner Whittinghill (2) runs the ball as Jacoia Orvis (5) blocks in a 21-6 loss to Muhlenberg County.

Darren Doyle, story: Macy Miller, photos:
Edmonson County kept Muhlenberg County off the board for a full quarter Friday night but two pick-sixes would be deciding factors in an otherwise solid performance from the Wildcats.

The Wildcats and Mustangs each went to the second quarter scoreless on homecoming night but the Mustangs' Abram Eaves then broke the deadlock with a 26-yard touchdown, and the extra point made it 7-0 with 9:18 left in the half.

Edmonson could not answer before another turnover. With 1:38 remaining in the second, Muhlenberg returned an interception 66 yards for a touchdown and added the kick. The Mustangs took a 14-0 lead into the locker room.

QB Sawyer Simmons.

Bricen Blake (L) with Konner Whittinghill.

Roger Harris with Mickey Blaine Johnson in the background.

Carson Cole

Roger Harris with Kaleb Hennion (8), Caleb Windom (57), and Camden Williams in the background (15).

The Wildcats finally got on the board in the third. Edmonson's Roger Harris scored on a 4-yard run and the two-point conversion was good, cutting the deficit to 14-6 with 7:31 left in the quarter.

Muhlenberg answered the same way it had built the lead. A 40-yard pick-six and extra point pushed the score to 21-6, and that held as the final.

Harris’s short touchdown and the two-point play were Edmonson’s only points. Both of Muhlenberg’s scores after the Eaves run came off interceptions returned for touchdowns.

The result dropped the Wildcats against a Mustangs team that had already opened 2-0.
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Coach Vessels with the team during a timeout.

Konner Whittinghill.

Wildcat Head Coach Justin Vessels said he was proud of the effort and the defense by the Wildcats, despite the turnovers that cost them.

"I thought our boys played hard the whole game," he said. "But we've got to clean up the mistakes. I don't know how many flags there was in the 1st quarter. It felt like a bunch. We could run the ball and get a first down when we had three downs to get ten yards, (but) when we had a false start or a hold or any of the other penalties, it was hard to get a first down by running it when it was 1st and 15, or 1st and 20. That gets out of our down-and-distance rhythm. Then we've got to mix in a pass here, there, and if you miss it, then you're in real long yardage. So, we've got to do a better job of cleaning up penalties and not turn the ball over. We been really good at this point in the season of turnovers and we had some tonight... it's a recipe to throw you off track on the offensive side of the ball, either side, really."

Some unofficial stats for the Wildcats on the night were quarterback Sawyer Simmons with 24 passing yards, Roger Harris had 14 carries for 70 rushing yards and a touchdown, Konner Whittinghill had 10 carries for 43 yards, Jacoia Orvis had three carries for 6 yards and Conner Self had two carries for 2 yards.

Edmonson County falls to 1-2 on the season and is scheduled to play Breckinridge County at home next Friday, September 11th at 7PM.