Cats win

An exciting football game between the Evarts Wildcats and Lynn Camp Wildcats ended one-play into the fourth quarter Friday night at Lynn Camp HIgh School with the host awarded a 34-14 victory.
It was a sad ending to an outstanding high school football game. Evarts, a decisive underdog, gave Lynn Camp fits in the first half but a strong third quarter proved to be too much as the host ‘Cats pulled away and led 34-14 when the fracas began at the start of the fourth period.
Until that point it was looking like the “Josh Reynolds Night”. The senior running back was having one of his best games of the season. He had 120 yards and had scored three touchdowns to that point and was leading the defense with 12 tackles
However the first half didn’t go to coach David Mitchell’s liking. “We didn’t play real well in the first half,” he said.
Maybe it was too easy in the early going and Lynn Camp needed a wake-up call against the upset-minded Evarts team.
Like in many of their games, Lynn Camp was on the scoreboard within minutes of the opening whistle. Reynolds scored his first touchdown with 8:02 left in the first quarter with senior Jimmy Chaffin tacking on the extra point.
Once the ‘Cats got the ball back they were in the end zone in a matter of seconds when Chaffin broke loose for a 47 yard TD pass from senior quarterback Nick Scalf. Chaffin booted the extra point through the uprights for a 14-0 lead with 5:21 in the period.
Then the momentum turned to Evarts as their Wildcats went on a 17-point spree, taking a 17-14 lead.
The first Evarts score came on a Mike Lunsford run of seven yards. He added the extra point cutting the lead in half.
However, the second TD was a bit controversial. An incomplete pass by Scalf was ruled a fumble. Evarts’ Brandon Helton had picked up the ball and ran it into the end zone. The play stood and the TD counted as Evarts tied the score at 14-all.
Things continued to go Evarts way as the Wildcats recovered an onside kick. The drive stalled but Lunsford hit on a 22 yard field goal with 6:33 left in the half and Evarts was on top, 17-14.
If that wasn’t enough to fire up Lynn Camp, then nothing would have been. Lynn Camp drove the ball down the field after recovering an Evarts fumble later in the quarter. Senior J.C. Keith broke loose for a 14 yard score with 5:00 in the half. Keith carried five times on the drive for 44 yards.
The tide turned even more in Lynn Camp’s favor at the start of the third quarter when Lunsford fumbled at the Evarts 38 yard line. The ‘Cats capitalized as Reynolds carried three straight times, the final for 16 yards and a touchdown. Reynolds added the conversion as Lynn Camp began to pull away.
The Lynn Camp defense held on Evarts’ next drive and took over on downs. Reynolds would again get the call and scored on a 12-yard run to put the host ahead 34-17.
Lynn Camp will have the week off before meeting the Cumberland Redskins on the road. “We need the break now, so we can get some people healed,” said Mitchell.
•There were several different reports of what happened at the start of the fourth quarter, but Mitchell said it was probably in the best interest of the teams that the game was called off. “The way things were going it was probably the best thing to do, call the game,” Mitchell said.
One individual who didn’t want his name mentioned said the game was called after many of the Evarts players left the bench. Mitchell added. “There were seven or eight players. They did leave the bench.”
Apparently the incident began when assistant coach Marcus Williams was ejected from the game after disagreeing with a call. As he was leaving the field, he was hit by a Lynn Camp fan. However, no one can attest to who might have hit the assistant coach. That’s when the players went to Williams aide and the game was called.
Attempts were made to contact the KHSAA about possible suspensions, but no one was available because of the state golf tournament being play in Paducah this week.

Evarts 14 3 0 x- 17
Lynn Camp 14 6 14 x- 34
LC- Josh Reynolds, 8 run (Jimmy Chaffin kick)
LC- Chaffin, 47 pass from Nick Scalf (Chaffin kick)
E- Mike Lunsford, 7 run (Lunsford kick)
E- Brandon Helton, 45 fumble recovery (Lunsford kick)
Second Quarter
E- Lunsford, 22 FG
LC- J.C. Keith, 14 run (run failed)
Third Quarter
LC- Reynolds, 16 run (Reynolds run)
LC- Reynolds, 11 run (run failed)