Walden Smokes Adair With Overtime Kick

Sophomore Clay Walden kicks the extra point against Adair County in overtime for the Wildcat 21-20 win.

Costly Penalties On Indians Allow Cats Late Game Opportunities

Edmonson Voice Sports, WildcatsLive Report:
Edmonson County pulled off a thrilling win over the Adair County Indians in overtime last night in Brownsville in a big district match up, thanks to a couple of Indian penalties and some Wildcats heroics.

The Cats and Indians were all tied up at the end of regulation 14-14 after Adair County was able to make their way into the end zone when junior quarterback Aaron Peck scored on a three-yard QB keeper with 4:39 left to go in the game. 

Adair County won the overtime coin toss and took possession on the ten-yard line with first and goal where the Indians were able to squeeze through the Wildcat defense for another touchdown; however, a huge miss on the extra point attempt allowed a better opportunity for the Wildcats on their next possession. Adair took a 20-14 lead.

Edmonson County then took over at the 10 with first and goal. Senior Jonathan Hollis carried for three yards on the first play of the series. Sophomore quarterback Jon Smith ran the ball himself on second down for no gain, then again on third down for another yard. This set the Wildcats up for fourth down with 6 yards to go in overtime but a false start against the Cats moved them back 5 yards to make it 4th down and 11 yards to go.

​Smith threw to the end zone but Adair was called for a holding penalty. After the play, another penalty was assessed to the Adair head coach for unsportsmanlike conduct in what appeared to be a reaction to the first penalty.

This gave the Wildcats one more opportunity to get in the end zone as they were able to move up to the 2 yard line. Smith ran the ball himself as he squeezed over the goal line for a touchdown and Edmonson County tied the game at 20-20. 

After an Adair County timeout, it was sophomore Wildcat kicker Clay Walden who booted the ball through the uprights for the extra point, which gave the Wildcats the 21-20 district win. 

"It was a great win for us here tonight with this district win," said Wildcat head coach Nathan Smith. "Most years, one district win will get you into the playoffs in a five-team district like we're in, so we're in a really good spot. We just can't come out and lay any eggs in the next couple of games. We've got a really good Hart County team coming up after fall break, a good Larue County team, and then Barren County, who's always really competitive with us. We've still got a lot of football to play, but I told the boys that I didn't want to see them for the next 7 to 10 days. I told them I didn't even want them to go to Cee Bee because I didn't want to run into them there, because we all need a break from each other." he said with a laugh.

Emotions were high even before the game, but on a different level. The Wildcats suffered a family loss earlier in the week as sophomore lineman Jace Conder lost his mother, Amy Lindsey Conder (41) unexpectedly a few days ago. The team rallied around Conder and his family, much like the volleyball team did with Jace's sister, Madalyn, who is a sophomore hitter for the Lady Cats. A moment of silence was held in Conder's memory in the pregame activities.

The Wildcats are now 4-3 on the season and will take on Hart County (4-3) on the road after fall break. ​