Tough 36-31 Loss For Wildcats on Homecoming

Edmonson County junior running back Colton White (8) runs in for a touchdown against visiting Fort Campbell Friday October 4 in Brownsville.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
​Edmonson County High School (4-3) once again enjoyed a full week to prepare, plus a day, returning to Friday night lights facing district rival Fort Campbell (3-3) on Homecoming October 4th in Brownsville.
 
The Wildcats were unable to control the speed and explosiveness of the Falcons on Homecoming and lost a four-quarter battle 36-31.
 
“We were just a little bit too sloppy and we made some mistakes,” Edmonson County head coach Justin Vessels said on the Edmonson Voice After Game Show. “The boys played hard. They played the whole game. They gave great effort, and it’s not any one player’s fault.”
 
Like the past two games, the opposing team scored two touchdowns, but instead of like the last two games being ahead, the Wildcats were down by one point 15-14.
 
“We made too many mistakes against a team that has that much speed,” Vessels said.
 
Too many to mistakes to overcome, I hated it, Vessels said. 

Edmonson County senior defensive end Ace Daugherty (56) makes a tackle for a loss against visiting Fort Campbell Friday October 4 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County junior running back Blayne Deweese (22) tries to break a tackle against visiting Fort Campbell Friday October 4 in Brownsville.

​“We started to slow down in the second half,” Edmonson County junior quarterback Tristen Muse said after the game. “Which we normally don’t do. We normally play a really good second half.”
 
Muse asserts the bulk of the blame is his from his performance on special teams in the loss, he said. He kicked it out a couple too many times and gave Fort Campbell good field position.
 
This kind of, almost selfish, theory of leadership was elaborated and written about by former Navy SEAL Jocko Wilkins in a book called “Extreme Ownership” by Jocko Wilkins and Leif Babin.
 
The theory, most often taught in Recruit Officer Training Cadet programs, basically says the leader is completely responsible for any mistakes. No matter the transgression.
 
If someone slips on a rock, any unforeseen incident, anything that contributes to any negative actions. No matter the complaint or objection from whoever the action was done by the leader assumes responsibility.
 
Muse does not know about the book or the SEAL “Jocko”, as he is often called by aficionados, but he is willing to accept the fault for the team loss, despite his coaches and other players saying there is no one person responsible.
 
This is not an attribute always given to people in leadership positions. Muse is a junior. There is room to grow.
 
And there is a bright side, Vessels said. They are 4-3 going into fall break. The seniors expressed a goal of having a winning record, and Vessels feels it is still attainable.

Edmonson County head coach Justin Vessels talks to his team while on the field during a timeout against visiting Fort Campbell Friday October 4 in Brownsville.

Edmonson County junior place kicker Colton White (8) makes the extra point attempt against visiting Fort Campbell Friday October 4 in Brownsville.

​The two things Vessels feels could come in between the Wildcats and winning record for the first time in years is complacency, which “won’t be a problem,” and the other thing is to stay together as a team, he said.
 
Neither will be a problem for them, he said. They like to practice and improve.
 
Fall break couldn’t come at a better time for the team. Seven games into the season, they are little banged up and the extra time off should help make a push to the end, Vessels said.
 
“We got to finish this thing off the right way,” Vessels said.
 
Owensboro Catholic is next and “they are really, really good,” Vessels said.
 
But they have to come here, both Vessels and Edmonson Voice Live broadcaster Granville Meredith said and agreed.
 
Some stats on the evening were, according to Edmonson Voice Live 18 first downs, 246 yards rushing, 42 passing and only three penalties. There was also a fumble recovery by senior defensive end Ace Daugherty.
 
There was a turnover on downs and an interception, as well as a kickoff returned for a touchdown, which were the “three mistakes,” according to the broadcast team.

Also, junior place kicker, running back and defensive back Colton White made his first field goal of the season. A 43 yard attack with room to spare. The school field goal record is 46 yards, set by the Edmonson Voice's own Granville Meredith back in 1987.
 
Good practices and keeping their heads up, Muse said is the key in moving forward. 
 
For the Wildcats to move forward, does anything change?
 
The process will not change, Vessels reiterated after the game.
 
“The process doesn’t change,” Vessels said last Thursday after the game in the Edmonson Voice. “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.”
 
After Fall Break, in two weeks, Friday Oct. 18 at 7 p.m. Edmonson County will host Owensboro Catholic in Brownsville.