Raiders drop to 0-8 with loss to Walton-Verona Bearcats 48-16

     The Trimble County High School Football Raiders traveled north last Friday night to take on the Walton Verona Bearcats. The 0-7 Raiders were looking for their first win of the season and the Bearcats were hoping to improve on their season record of 6-2. The Bearcats suffered a 23-19 loss to Gallatin County the previous week, while the Raiders fell to Owen County 19-6.

     The Raiders offense took the field first with T.J. Payton and Tevin Taylor sharing quarterback responsibilities. Just after last week’s loss to Owen County Coach Franklin said there was not much confidence in the passing game because of injuries. In a dramatic turn around, his game plan for the Bearcats would be to put the ball in the air. The offensive line stood their ground to protect their quarterbacks. Unfortunately, they were only able to complete 23% of their pass attempts, collectively.  One notable catch came late in the first quarter when Payton tossed the ball to Taylor who threw the ball deep to Chaylen Sedam. Sedam took the ball to the eight-yard line, making it a 72-yard completion and run.  Regrettably, the Raiders were unable to finish that drive and turned the ball over on downs to the Bearcats.

     The Bearcats scored 48 points before the Raiders could respond. Near the middle of the third quarter, the Raiders put together a seven-minute drive that would culminate in a touchdown. On third and seven, Taylor completed a pass to Payton for the 20-yard touchdown and later the same pair connected to score the extra points after the touchdown. With 38 seconds left in the third quarter, the Raiders were down 48-8, but showed no signs of retreat.

   On the next Bearcats drive, it was clear that the Raiders offense had inspired their defense to start tackling better, which allowed the offense to get back on the field for one last score. Trimble County’s Bo Hawkes scored the final touchdown and extra points for the Raiders. Despite their valiant second half effort, the Raiders closed out the game losing 48-16.

     The Raiders (0-8) will be playing in Carroll County this week against the Panthers (3-5).  Carroll County is coming into the game following a 48-7 victory over Owen County last Friday. The game between the Raiders and Panthers is set to begin at 7:30PM in Carrollton at the Carroll County High School Football stadium. It looks to be a cold night for football so bring your stadium blankets and extra clothes to come out and support the Raiders as they look for their first win of the season.

   

TCMS Football Finishes with a 4-4 Record

     The Trimble County Middle School Football Raiders were 4-2 when the Owen County Rebels came into Bedford Thursday, September 26. The Rebels delivered what would be the knockout punch to the Raiders when they returned the opening kick for a touchdown. Although, the Raiders showed signs of the fortitude that earned them a team record of 4-2, they played like a bunch of whipped pups as they went on to lose 38-0.

     Just five days later, Tuesday, October 1, the Warriors from Eminence came into town on a mission to beat the Raiders. The Raiders kicked off to the Warriors to open the game, but the Raiders were certain not to start the game like the last one and shut down the return after a minimal gain. On the Warriors first offensive play from scrimmage, their Quarterback dropped back, to launch a perfect pass to the Wide Receiver that he was able to run for a 60-yard touchdown. The Raiders were deflated only 17 seconds into the game but their pride would not allow them to give up another shut out at home. Late in the second quarter and being down 14-0, the Raiders marched all the way to the Warriors ten-yard line before the Warriors intercepted a pass and returned it for a 90-yard touchdown. The end of the first half score was 20-0 in favor of the Warriors.

     At halftime, the Trimble County Youth Tackle Football League players and coaches were introduced to the community. President of the league, Daniel Cull said the enthusiasm for football among parents and players in the county continues to grow every year. Cull is in his fourth year presiding over the league and has seen a steady increase in players every year since he became president of the league.

     Back to the game, The Warriors piled on another 16 unanswered points by the beginning of the fourth quarter. Down 36-0, the Raiders offense had one more shot to get on the scoreboard before the end of the season. Raiders head coach Mike Isley put together one last group of plays for the team to have a chance to score. The offensive line dug in their heels to protect Quarterback Cole Wright long enough for him to hurl the pigskin to Nick McCutchen who ran for a 40-yard Raider touchdown. Stevie Swanger scored the 2-point conversion, but the Raiders ran out of time to make a comeback and went on to lose 36-8.

    Now the offseason begins. Raiders Coach Mike Isley along with assistants Joe Perkinson and Harold Crawford can rest on the reality that their team finished at .500 and something to build on next season.

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TCMS Football Raiders Suffer Humbling Defeat to KCD

  

     The Trimble County Middle School Football Raiders were on the road last Thursday when they played against the Kentucky Country Day Bearcats in Louisville, KY.  The game began with the Raiders kicking off to the Bearcats. The Raiders defense played tough early on, but a couple of missed tackles led to a Bearcat touchdown late in the first quarter. The Bearcat drive took 5:28 off the clock. Down 8-0, Raiders’ Cole Wright returned the kick-off to their 29-yard line. The offensive line of the Raiders were slow off the ball and allowed the Bearcat defense to hold running backs Stevie Swanger, Joe Pollock, and Reese Poe to minimal gains on their opening drive. The Raiders were forced to punt after three unsuccessful attempts at a first down. The Bearcats returned the Raider punt for a touchdown and score the 2-point conversion, which had the Raiders down 16-0 with just 21 seconds left in the first quarter. Raiders’ Cole Wright returned the Bearcats kick-off nearly 50 yards before being taken down around the 20-yard line of the Bearcats. Unfortunately, the Raiders couldn’t hold on to the ball and turned it over to the Bearcats.

     Just a play later, the Bearcats scored another touchdown on a pass play that brought the score to 24-0 just 7 seconds inside the second quarter. The Raiders offense fumbled again on their next possession setting up another Bearcat touchdown and extra point which put the Raiders down 31-0 with 5:40 left in the first half. Raider Joe Pollock picked up the Bearcat kick-off at the 22-yard line and ran the ball almost 40 yards before being wrestled down near the Bearcat 40-yard line. The Raiders offense were able to make some good runs to close out the half, but unable to get on the scoreboard.

    In the third quarter, the Raiders defense stiffened up and held the Bearcats to only one touchdown and an extra point. It was the fourth quarter that the Raiders appeared to wake up in a nightmare of a game being down 37-0. The offensive team of the Raiders started hitting on all eleven cylinders as they marched down the field with sense of urgency. Reese Poe broke through the line to run for a 60 yard touchdown early in the fourth quarter, but the Raiders were unable to score any points after the touchdown. Trailing 37-6, and being exhausted from the heat, the Raiders had 6:32 left in the game to make sure KCD knew they were there. However, the Bearcats scampered their way to the end zone using almost three minutes of the precious time left. It wasn’t looking good for the Raiders when Cole Wright was stopped for a short gain on the kickoff return. Thank God, there is no quit in the Raiders. Coach Mike Isley put together one last offensive drive for the game that would allow the Reese Poe score one more touchdown for the Raiders with Nick McCutchen scoring the extra points that ended the game at 43-14 in favor of the Kentucky Country Day Bearcats.  The next game for the TCMS Raiders will be Thursday September 12 in Bedford at the Trimble County High School at 6:00. Come out and show your support of these young athletes in our community as they take on the Gallatin County Wildcats.

Click here for images of the game

TCMS Starts Slow Finishes Strong with Win over CCMS

     The Trimble County Middle School Football Raiders took a short trip to Carrollton Thursday August 29 to take on the Carroll County Middle School Football Panthers. The best of each team’s defense was on display for the first quarter of the game by holding each other to minimal gains on offense. It was beginning to look like a punting contest between the teams.

     Just inside the Second Quarter, Raiders’ Quarterback #3 Cole Wright hit #22 Stevie Swanger with a short pass that Swanger turned into a big gain until he was wrestled down at the 6 yard line of the Panthers. But the Raiders drive stalled out and after 4 attempts to get into the end zone, they gave the ball back to the Panthers.  The Raiders defense held strong once again and forced the Panthers to punt after 3 attempts to get a first down. A bad snap from the Panthers gave the Raiders the shot they needed when #45 Nick McCutchen pounced on the Panther punter and the ball at the 5 yard line of the Panthers. The following play, Swanger carried the ball on a sweep to the left to cross the goal line for the first Touchdown of the game. Swanger scored the 2-point conversion making the score the 8-0 with 3:22 left in the second quarter. The Panthers looked like they were going to get something going but the drive stalled out near mid field when they turned the ball over on downs back to the Raiders. A miscue on the offense was all the Panthers needed to cause a Raider fumble and get the ball back with less than 2 minutes left on the clock before halftime. The Panthers took full advantage of the turnover and systematically rushed the ball down the field to score a Touchdown with 5 seconds left on the clock. On their longest run of the drive Panthers Quarterback #38 Jake Robertson twisted his left knee causing him to miss the rest of the game. The Panthers attempt at a 2-point conversion failed leaving the score at 8-6 in favor of the Raiders.

     The Raiders came out after halftime kicking off to the Panthers. Raiders’ kicker #42 Brayden Luckett kicked the ball deep into Panther territory and still made it down the field to stop the Panthers from making any big gains on the return. The Raiders defense drowned out any hope of a Panther come back in the second half by forcing them to go 3 and out before the punt. The Raiders offense could do no better and gave the ball back to the Panthers after 4 tries for a first down. The big momentum change came when 7^th grade Raider Nose Guard #35 Shayman Quire squeezed through the big Panther offensive line to sack the Panthers second string Quarterback for a loss of yards that they could not overcome causing them to punt the ball back to the Raiders.

     After a scoreless third quarter, the Raiders started the 4^th Quarter with a run outside the right tackle for an 80 yard Touchdown run by #22 Stevie Swanger. Swanger was able to score the 2-point conversion with a little push from the Raiders’ offensive line making the score 16-6 with 7:45 left in the game. The Raiders were like sharks with blood in the water against the Panthers offense. Raiders’ Nose Guard #35 Shayman Quire made his second sack of the Panthers Quarterback creating a confusion that would lead to a fumble on the next play to give the Raiders the ball back with 6:16 left in the game. The Raiders took 4 seconds off the clock when they handed the ball off to Swanger who ran for his third Touchdown of the game. The Raiders were not able to convert for extra points after the score leaving the score at 22-6 with 6:12 left in the game. The Panthers started the following drive at the 25 yard line. The Raiders defense was in attack mode when #33 Quinton Gilley tackled a Panther runner behind the line of scrimmage. The following play #24 Joe Pollock sacked the Panther Quarterback for another big loss of yards. The Panthers tried a quick toss outside but the running back was met by Raider defender #49 Chris Perkinson who brought the runner down in his tracks. With nothing else to do, the Panthers dropped back to punt on 4^th down. Raiders Linebacker Joe Pollock made an unbelievable leap in the air to block the punt allowing #93 Tyler Westrick to recover the punt for the Raiders just outside the Panthers 10 yard line. The next play, Raiders Running Back #31 Reese Poe got behind his blockers and found his way into the end zone for a Touchdown. Quarterback Cole Wright connected with Raiders’ Tight End #45 McCutchen for the 2-point conversion that would be the final score of the game with 3:51 left on the game clock.

     The Raiders finished the game beating the Panthers 30-6 for their second win of the season. Their first win came against Switzerland County 46-0 in Vevay, Indiana.  The Raiders only loss of the season came against Walton Verona 18-12 last Tuesday August 15. The next game for the Raiders will be played in Louisville, KY against Kentucky Country Day on Thursday September 5 at 6:00.

Images from the Raiders at Panthers Game.