CLOSE CALL

Whitley County’s football season opener against Bell County last Friday can be likened to a legendary fishing trip about “the one that got away.” The Colonels met the Bobcats in the first game of the City/County Bowl at Middlesboro, and was one ill-fated play away from reeling in their highly ranked opponent – falling 24-20 after a furious fourth-quarter rally.
It was an ill-fated drive in the first quarter, though, that inevitably sealed the Colonels’ fate. After holding the Bobcats to just a field goal during a long game-opening drive, Whitley County appeared to take the lead with just 36 seconds to play in the first quarter. The 12-yard toss from junior quarterback Jordan McCumbers to senior receiver Kevin Wells would have given the Colonels at least a 6-3 lead.
“That was the game winner right there,” Whitley County head coach Jim Black said. “I sat there and watched to make sure there wasn’t a flag at least for five to seven seconds and didn’t see one, so I called for a PAT (point after attempt). When I turned back around, I saw the flag lying there. If we punch that first one in, it’s a different game.”
Officials tossed a beanbag onto the field mistakenly, and then later threw a flag. Black bitterly protested the call to no avail.
“They came over and explained it. I can understand that. It was the first game for them too.”
But with a new coach and an entirely new offensive scheme in place, the Colonels showed few first-game jitters, racking up 285 yards in offense, and 20 first downs on a Bell County defense forced to play slack for fear

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of Whitley County’s passing game.
“They were so worried about our screening them, they weren’t rushing us hard,” Black said. “That’s why we weren’t getting the hard rush … There’s going to be people down the road that try to line up and play us man-to-man and come after us.”
Still, with its early chances, the Colonels were unable to put points on the board in the first three quarters.
Bell County took a 10-0 lead into the half on an eight-play, 76-yard drive capped by a nifty seven-yard touchdown run by junior halfback T.R. Christopher. Kicker Monty Merrick, who nailed a field goal on Bell County’s first drive, added the extra point.
The second half started poorly for the Colonels who, after crossing midfield, surrendered the drive when McCumbers was intercepted by Bobcat senior tight end Brent Slusher who raced to the end zone and a 17-0 lead.
Whitley County stopped a third-quarter Bell County drive by forcing a fumble, and whittled away the rest of the period on a promising effort that stalled out 16 yards from the end zone.
Only seconds into the fourth quarter, sophomore defensive back Ed Lawson gave the Colonels the lift they needed to rally, intercepting a pass from Bell County quarterback Kyle Nelson and scoring. The Colonels recovered a fumble on the ensuing kickoff and scored again after a 34-yard drive that ended with a one-yard sneak into the end zone by McCumbers.
McCumbers crossed the goal line again on a two-point conversion to make it a three point, 17-14 Bobcat lead.
Bell County responded on its next drive when Christopher broke free for a 23-yard touchdown run with 5:31 to play.
Down 24-14, the Colonels tightened things again by scoring on an 11-play, 64-yard drive. Senior running back Cody Jefferies made a spectacular leap over a Bobcat tackler to score with 2:20 to play. The extra point attempt failed, laying bare the team’s weakness in the kicking game.
Bell County was able to get a first down and run out the clock to win the game.
“The effort was great by our players, you can’t fault that,” Black said. “We just dug a hole that was too deep to get out of.”
The Colonels had 51 pass attempts in the game for a total of 207 yards through the air, a team record and a huge departure from Whitley County offensive philosophy in the past. The team had only 58 yards rushing.
Bell County gained 115 yards in the passing game and 194 on the ground.
Time of possession for both teams was roughly the same.
Black said he thinks players enjoy the new offensive scheme because it is more inclusive. Seven different receivers made catches for the Colonels.
“The kids love it,” he said. “We can involve a lot more kids in it and that’s why they respond so well.
The Colonels will be on the road again this Saturday, playing North Hardin (1-0) in the Coach Joe Jaggers Bowl at 8:00 p.m. North Hardin beat Fairdale last week 7-0.

Whitley County 20, Bell County 24
First quarter
BC – Monty Merrick 34 field goal 4:54
Second quarter
BC – T.R. Christopher 7 run (Merrick kick) 1:14
Third quarter
BC – Brent Slush INT return (Merrick kick) 8:36
Fourth quarter
WC – Ed Lawson INT return (rush failed) 11:53
WC – Jordan McCumbers 1 run (McCumbers rush failed) 10:16
BC – T.R. Christopher 23 run (Merrick kick) 5:31
WC – Cody Jefferies 9 run (kick failed) 2:20