The Mountain Eagle
WHITESBURG WEATHER

Cougars will use week off to prepare for next 2 foes




The Letcher County Central Cougars have a much needed week off as they try to regroup and win the final two games of the season.

The Cougars, who will be back in action next week against Whitley County, fell to district foe North Laurel last Friday, 43-7, in a game that saw the LCC defense give up more than 200 yards rushing for the contest.

The game started off great for the Cougars when on the opening kickoff Jon Sergent recovered an onside kick near midfield. The LCC offense couldn’t capitalize however, and quickly went 3 and out.

North Laurel quarterback Cole Mcwhorter used a play action pass to connect with Matt Sizemore for a 19-yard gain. The Jaguars then methodically moved the ball down the field on an 8-play, 69-yard drive capped off by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by Jose Rodriquez. The extra point was good to give North Laurel a 7-0 lead.

LCC couldn’t gain a first down on offense again and the snap out of punt formation sailed over Jon Sergent’s head who pounced on the football in the end zone, resulting in a safety.

Nick Broughton took a handoff on a jet sweep for a 22-yard gain to start the North Laurel drive. Then 3 plays later, a questionable pass interference call on LCC gave the Jaguars first and goal from the 5-yard line. Sizemore ran up the middle untouched for the score. The extra point made it 16-0 late in the first quarter.

LCC quarterback Nick Sergent broke contain and scrambled for a 12-yard gain. A roughing the passer penalty 2 plays later gave the Cougars another first down. On 3rd and long Sergent found Blake Brashears on a skinny post for a 19-yard gain into North Laurel territory. Sergent had a 15-yard scramble, but the Cougars eventually turned the ball over before they could score.

The Cougar defense came up big to force the first punt of the game by North Laurel.

Sergent connected with Kealan Lucas on a seam route for a 15- yard gain. Two plays later Sergent was sacked and an incompletion on 4th down turned the ball over on downs near midfield.

Kealan Lucas came up with a sack of Mcwhorter that forced a 3rd and long. The Jaguars converted on a long pass and drove to the LCC 3-yard line. The handoff exchange between Mcwhorter and Sizemore was botched and the loose ball was recovered by LCC lineman Sam Mullins to thwart the scoring chance.

On 3rd and 7 deep in the Cougars’ own territory, Jon Sergent made a spectacular one-handed catch for a 20-yard gain. Unfortunately, a few plays later Matt Sizemore intercepted a pass and returned it 54 yards for a touchdown. LCC blocked the extra point to keep the score at 22-0.

Letcher Central went 3 and out again and North Laurel capitalized on good field position. Mcwhorter threw a bullet to Matt Brooks for a 15-yard touchdown. Sizemore ran in the two-point conversion to increase the lead to 30-0.

Letcher Central had a turnover on downs which led to a touchdown run by Quinton Houser. The extra point was good to make the score 37-0 in favor of North Laurel and start a running clock.

On the next drive Brashears showed his speed when he caught a 55-yard bomb from Sergent for a touchdown. Dollarhyde made the extra point to cut the lead to 37-7.

North Laurel took another touchdown late in the game on a 1-yard run by Konnor Robinson. LCC blocked the extra point to make the final score 43-7.

The Cougar offense never found a rhythm in the game and only gained 196 yards total for the contest. Nick Sergent completed 10 passes on 25 attempts for 128 yards and a touchdown. Sergent also gained 30 yards rushing. Kaleb Mullins carried the ball 9 times for 37 yards. Blake Brashears led the receiving corps with 3 catches for 76 yards and a score. Kealan Lucas had 2 catches for 24 yards and Jon Sergent had 2 catches for 28 yards.

LCC will host Whitley County at Cougar Field on October 20. The Colonels have a 4-3 record and knocked off Perry County Central this past week 27-20. Running back Dawson Swain averages over 150 rushing yards per game and it will be key for the LCC defense to focus on stopping him.



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