Wildcats Score 27 Unanswered Points in Second Half Against Ohio County in 48-14 Win

Edmonson County senior running back Carter Swihart screams in celebration after scoring a touchdown against host Ohio County Friday Sept. 20 in Hartford.

Story and photos by Joseph Barkoff:
​The best team on turf, at least the turf of Ohio County High School was Edmonson County as the Wildcats outperformed host Eagles 48-14 on the road Friday, September 20th in Hartford.
 
Despite being down by only one touchdown at the halfway point, the Wildcats dominated the scoreboard in the second half with 27 unanswered points.
 
“It feels great,” Edmonson County head coach Justin Vessels said after the game. “This is the kind of game we needed where we could have a good game on offense and get the offense going and get the boys’ confidence (up).”
 
“It was a close game at the half, 21-14, and we came out in the second half and continued to play well, and I think we scored 27 unanswered,” Vessels said.
 
The team was not afraid coming out in the second half, Vessels said.
 
“I never felt like they stopped us,” Vessels said about the first half. “The few times we got stopped, it was stuff we done to ourselves. You know, a penalty, a bobbled snap or something that got us in long yardage.”
 
“They never stopped us, we stopped ourselves,” Vessels said.
 
So if we can clean up a few of those mistakes, we can keep it rolling, Vessels said about coming out into the second half.
 
“I don’t think we had any of those mistakes in the second half,” Vessels said.

Edmonson County junior running back Colton White (8) breaks a tackle against host Ohio County Friday Sept. 20 in Hartford.

Edmonson County junior running back Blayne Deweese (22) runs for a touchdown against host Ohio County Friday Sept. 20 in Hartford.

Edmonson County junior quarterback Tristen Muse looks for room to run against host Ohio County Friday Sept. 20 in Hartford.

One sign of the success on the evening according to an unofficial stats from Edmonson Voice Live broadcast was 307 yards rushing shared between five different players. Seniors running back Carter Swihart, and fullback Garret Lyons, junior quarterback Tristen Muse and running back Colton White, and sophomore fullback Jacoia Orvis, all got touches and gained yards for Edmonson.
 
“It feels really good man,” Muse said after the game. “We started off hot.”
 
“We played even better in the second half,” Muse said.
 
“All our backs ran really good, hit the holes pretty good, and our linemen, they blocked really well,” Muse said.
 
“Defense played really good too,” Muse said.

​

Edmonson County wide receiver William Saling (14) scores a touch down on a 28 yard throw from junior quarterback Tristen Muse to open the game against host Ohio County Friday September 20 in Hartford.

Edmonson County wide receiver William Saling (middle) celebrates with fullback Garret Lyons and tight end Jake Coy after scoring a touchdown against host Ohio County Friday September 20 in Hartford.

Edmonson County defense works against host Ohio County in the second half of a 48-14 Wildcat victory Friday Sept. 20 in Hartford.

​Indeed. The defense had two interceptions with one from White in the second half during a play when seniors defensive back Aiden Seabolt blitzed alongside defensive end Ace Daughtery charging both from the right side. The Eagle quarterback was unable to complete his throw with full force  and lofted over both lines, like a lame duck, into White’s hands.
 
As well, on the first two possession of the game for Ohio County, the Wildcats made them punt after three downs each time.
 
However, the Wildcats also committed six penalties for 60 yards.
 
Vessels said he doesn’t want the holding penalties, Vessels said. Though he would rather those than false starts or lining up incorrectly.
 
“A holding penalty is an effort penalty,” Vessels said. “Kid is at least trying to make a block and give great effort. A mental mistake of lining up wrong, false start, off-sides, those should never happen.”

​“This was probably one of our best weeks of practice,” Vessels said of the previous week. “We was really sharp. We need to have another great week of practice and just start stacking them on top each other.”
 
“I’m proud of them ‘cause they work hard for us in practice,” Vessels said. “They are very coachable kids. They’re good kids and I am tickled to death that they are getting’ to have some success.”
 
Wildcats are at home next week against visiting Clinton County. The game is Friday Sept. 27 at 7 p.m. in Brownsville.