DEFENSE

It came down to just one play, it was stop them or lose. After watching the Middlesboro Yellow Jackets drive the ball down the field on the final possession of the game and score with :23 seconds to play. To pull within one point (27-26), it was up to the Colonels’ defense to stop the run or pass.
Middlesboro quarterback Trevor Hoskins tried to bully his way into the end zone for the winning two points but it just didn’t happen and the Colonels were able to open the 2005 season with the narrowest of margins.
The Colonels also had to come from behind to get the win. Whitley County trailed 6-0 after Hoskins scored on an eight yard run in the first quarter. However, the extra point failed and the Jackets led 6-0.
The first Whitley County possession appeared to end with a fourth and 17 punt by Mark Teague but the Middlesboro receiver fumbled the ball and Jonathan Bowman recovered at the Jackets 43 yard line.
Teague and Eli Rhodes kept the drive alive and moved the ball down the field. A 13 yard gain by Rhodes to the 10 yard line got the ball within striking distance. Teague followed with an eight yard run and Rhodes finished off the drive with a two yard plunge into the end zone with 10:02 in the second period. Teague added the extra point and the Colonels took a 7-6 lead.
Middlesboro pushed back on top late in the second period and Hoskins added the two-point conversion for a 14-7 score at the half.
Whitley County came right back in the third period and scored on a Jordan McCumbers run of six yards with 9:38 on the clock. The big play came on the kickoff when Teague broke loose for an 87 yard return.
The tie would hold up until the final play of the third quarter when Hoskins hit Farr on a 46 yard pass as Middlesboro moved ahead 20-14 with no time on the clock. The conversion failed.
After trading possessions Whitley County got the ball at the Middlesboro 44 yard line. A five-yard penalty pushed the ball down to the 39 yard line. Back to back runs by Teague resulted in four yards and the Colonels faced a third and one from the 35 yard line. Rhodes picked up the first down and more as he broke loose for the TD, tying the game at 20-20. Teague booted through the extra point and the Colonels had regained the lead.
The Colonels sent the kickoff across the field and it was mishandled by senior James Miller. Tony Gentry recovered for the Colonels and the offense was back in control.
Teague and Rhodes combined for a first down at the 30 yard line but a penalty pushed the ball back five yards. Cody Jeffries broke loose for a run to the end zone but an illegal hit to the back moved the ball back to the 36.
Jeffries took the ball down to the 21 yard line where Rhodes got the call. His run to the five yard line gave the Colonels a first down. Rhodes followed the next attempt with a run into the end zone for a 27-20 lead. The PAT was blocked and the Jackets were within striking distance with 2:36 left in the game.
That proved to be more than enough time as Middlesboro took the ball 73 yards on 10 plays into the end zone. A Hoskins pass to Casey Earls accounted for the touchdown with :23 left. The Colonels came up with the stop of stops and held off the Jackets for the one-point win.

Whitley County 0

First Quarter
M – Trevor Hoskins, 8 run (kick failed)
Second Quarter
WC – Eli Rhodes, 2 run (Teague kick)
M – Hoskins, 21 run (Hoskins run)
WC – Jordan McCumbers, 6 run (Teague kick)
Third Quarter
M – Farr, 46 pass from Hoskins (kick failed)
Fourth Quarter
WC – Rhodes, 36 run (Teague kick)
WC – Rhodes, 5 run (kick blocked)
M – Earls, 22 pass from Hoskins (run failed)