When Class 3A District One added Union County three years ago, it meant one team would stay at home in the playoffs. And for the past two seasons, it was losses to Fort Campbell that kept Trigg County out of the postseason. The Wildcats used a punt return for a score in the final minute to beat the Falcons 14-7 Friday and gain an inside track to the playoffs.
Despite seven turnovers and two touchdowns called back due to penalty, the Falcons had chances to win the game. But it was a special teams breakdown that decided the game. The Falcon defense forced Trigg County to punt with 4:42 left. A short punt allowed Abdel Howard to return the punt to midfield, but a block in the back flag meant the drive instead started at the 20. Fort Campbell lost six yards on their next three plays and were forced to punt. Kyron Grubbs took Gabe Whitehead’s punt at the 42-yard line and returned it down the left side for the go-ahead touchdown with 42 seconds left.
Fort Campbell’s final attempt to tie the game ended with Tyson Bush’s second interception of the night with 15 seconds left. It was one of four by the Wildcat defense.
It was a special teams miscue by Trigg County that led to the game’s first score. The Wildcats allowed a punt to bounce at the 15-yard line and roll dead at their two-yard line. A fumble on the next play was recovered by Donnell Dunnings in the end zone for a 7-0 Falcon lead with 5:25 left in the first quarter.
Trigg responded on the next drive when Cam Jordan hit Gabe Hardie on a 70-yard screen pass to the Falcon 6-yard line. Two plays later, Jordan ran it in for the tying score.
The defenses took over the rest of the way. Trigg County managed just 26 yards on 21 second half plays. Fort Campbell managed just 11 yards on 26 second half plays.
Jordan, who was injured in last week’s loss to Russellville, was ineffective running the football against a blitzing Falcon defense, managing minus-14 yards on 11 carries. Meanwhile, Fort Campbell’s Denoris Buchanan, who rushed for 289 in last week’s win over Fort Knox, racked up 73 yards in 21 carries.
For the game, Trigg County outgained the Falcons 146-144.
Trigg County’s win came in a series dominated by the Falcons in recent years. Fort Campbell has now won nine of the last 12 meetings with Trigg County and 11 of the last 16. Fort Campbell leads the all-time series 30-14.
Fort Campbell (2-4) has next week off and will play Union County in two weeks. Trigg County (4-2) will travel to Paducah Tilghman next week.
