After two straight seasons on the wrong end of a running clock against Murray, Trigg County was in a position to snap a four-game losing streak to the Tigers and sneak away from Ty Holland Stadium with a win.
However, Murray‘s defense came up big with just over two minutes to go and stopped the Wildcats on a fourth and one run at the Murray 22. The Tigers were able to run out the clock and escape with a 28-20 win.
Trigg County had trouble stopping Murray’s veer offense that rolled up 208 rushing yards and touchdowns on its first three drives in the first half. Tiger quarterback Rowdy Sokolowski scored on first quarter runs of five and 15 yards. He had over 100 yards rushing in the first half and finished with 152 yards on 14 carries for the game.
Trigg County was able to move the football in the first half as Jacob Wease hit Jerimyah Shearer on touchdown passes of 19 and 17 yards. Shearer was inserted into the starting lineup just hours before kick-off as one of Trigg‘s receivers entered Covid quarantine.
Sokolowski hit Xavier Biggers on a 10-yard pass with 41 seconds to go in the first quarter to put the Tigers up 21- 8.
Shearer’s second touchdown catch got Trigg to within 21-14, and Kelsey Parham ran it in from 7 yards out to get the Wildcats to within 21-20 with 5:24 left.
Trigg recovered a Murray fumble and was driving late in the first half but could not punch it in after setting up first and goal at the Murray 10.
Trigg‘s defense stiffened up a bit in the third quarter thanks to a pair of turnovers and Trigg’s ability to move the chains and keep Murray’s offense off the field. The Tigers ran four plays on offense in the third quarter and 10 in the second half.
Sokolowski scored his third touchdown of the game with 7:47 left that extended Murray’s lead to 28-20.
Trigg County, using mostly runs by Parham, moved the football to the Murray 22-yard. Facing fourth-and-one with 2:08 left, the Tiger defense swarmed Parham on a carry, resulting in a two-yard loss.
Out of time outs, Trigg County could not stop the clock and Murray escaped with the win.
Trigg County ran 78 plays in the game compared to Murray’s 36. Murray outgained Trigg in yards 304 to 300.
Parham rushed for a career-high 131 yards on 29 carries. Kendric Adams added 77 yards on 17 carries. Wease was eight of 19 passing for 98 yards.
Despite Trigg County controlling possession in the second half, they were o-for-5 on third-down conversions and 1-for-10 for the game. They did convert twice on fourth down.
Murray’s veer attack averaged 8.9 yards a carry for the game
Trigg County falls to 1-2 with its fifth straight loss to Murray dating back to 2008.
Murray improved to 2-0 and will play at unbeaten Union County next week.
Trigg County will play its fourth straight game on the road to start the season when they visit Fort Campbell on post. The Falcons have yet to hit the field this year, losing two games to Covid quarantine and a week three bye.
