Bobcats get Beckham encore - beat Harlan, 19-7
By D.A. Collier
Voice Sports
Facing another tough away game vs. the Harlan Green Dragons, Breathitt Co. needed another strong performance. They got it once again from senior running back Beckham Herald. With the Bobcats clinging to a 13-0 lead and Harlan on the move, Herald stepped in front of a Dragon receiver, made the interception and took the ball all the way back to the Harlan two yard line. Quarterback Colby Fugate scored on a sneak and the Bobcats increased their lead to 19-7 with 4:34 in left in the third quarter and turned the game over to their defense.
The Bobcats received the opening kickoff and drove 94 yards for 7-0 lead. The drive had good runs by Fugate and his brother Channing and featured a 12 yard catch on 3rd down by Ryan Allen to keep the drive alive. Beckham took it in from the six yard line for the touchdown.
During the remainder of the half, the Bobcats drove deep into Green Dragon territory twice, but had both drives stall inside the ten yard line. The half ended with Breathitt leading 7-0.
In the third quarter, the Bobcats were able to cross the goal line again. First down runs by Channing and Colby put the ball on the 23 yard line. Beckham scored breaking free up the middle and veering to the right corner of the end zone to make the score 13 -0.
This game however came down to defense and the Bobcat “D” came up big. Chris Spicer had an interception. Late in the 4th quarter, Aaron Mullins put big pressure on the Dragon QB and Jade Haddix made the interception. Prior to Beckham’s interception, a crushing sack by Houston Noble and Scott Bailey had rocked the Harlan quarterback.
The Bobcats unveiled a new punting strategy turning over the duties to freshman Channing Fugate (who if he ever played like a freshman, got past it three weeks ago). Fugate sprints out to the right and kicks on the run. Sometime down the road, look for Fugate to tuck the ball and just keep running down the sideline.
Senior lineman and anchor of the offensive and defensive line Casey Allen incurred a leg injury with less than four minutes left in the game. Allen is listed as questionable for the next game.
Late in the 3rd quarter, Coach John Paul Chapman went running into the huddle calling for linebacker Chris Jackson who followed Chapman to the huddle. On this kickoff and the next, Jackson made the tackle. That is coaching.
With 45 seconds left in the game and the Bobcats facing a fourth down and long, Head Coach Mike Holcomb and Chapman conferred. The Bobcats lined up with 25 seconds left. At this point Chapman instructed wide-out Rusty Herald to run downfield. An off-sides penalty was called. The ball was reset; the clock kept ticking and Breathitt got the win without giving the ball back to Harlan. More coaching!
In the 4th quarter it was senior Beckham Herald running for those tough yards to give Breathitt a first down and keep the clock moving. Beckham had 89 yards rushing, and 3 pass receptions.
A good crowd of over 200 made the bad drive to Harlan to follow the Bobcats.
