Heading into Friday nights game on September 11th, the undefeated Copper Basin Cougars (4-0) were fired up to take on the also undefeated Tellico Plains Bears.

The Cougars are off to their best start to a football season in 10 years behind Bryson Grabowski’s stellar quarterback play.

The Tellico Plains Bears had not allowed a single point in their previous two games, beating McMinn Central 13-0 and Sequoyah 8-0 to start their season.

From the opening kickoff, it looked as if the Bears were going to give the Cougars a fit, returning the opening kickoff across the Cougars side of the field and then quickly punching it in for 6.

After shaking off the early blow, Bryson Grabowski threw a dime to Timothy Jabaley to get the Cougars on the board and tie it up at 7 all. Copper Basin was also able to recover an onside kick and immediately get the ball back.

Chance Rollins pancakes a Tellico Plains defensive lineman

Grabowski’s arm was on full display all night Friday, as he found Kaden Williams streaking down the sideline for a 55 yard touchdown.

The Basin defense would get then take the ball away from the Bears at the end of the first quarter, which set up another Bryson Grabowski touchdown pass, this time to AJ Miles. The third Grabowski touchdown pass of the night would put the Cougars in front 21-7 at the start of the second quarter.

It was all Grabowski for most of the game as you can tell, and with the next two Copper Basin drives he would find Dawson Worthy in the end zone for his fourth TD pass, and then find the endzone by himself on a quarterback keeper that put Basin ahead 35-7 heading into halftime.

Tellico Plains would not make any adjustments in the locker room, and in the second half they still had no answer for Grabowski and the Cougars offense, and also could not move the ball themselves against a tough Cougar Defense.

Grabowski was able to notch his fifth touchdown pass of the night in the 3rd quarter, finding Dawson Worthy again and putting the Cougs up 42-7.

Copper Basin would eventually win the game 56-14.

Bryson Grabowski was 9 for 12 with 5 passing touchdowns and 232 yards through the air, while also running the ball 6 times for 121 yards and a score, giving him 6 total touchdowns on the day.

Sebastian Baliles was also a force to be reckoned with on the ground, rushing for 132 yards and one TD.

Dawson Worthy was Grabowski’s favorite target last weekend, grabbing 3 catches for 118 yards and two touchdowns. Jabaley, Williams and Miles also caught TD passes from Grabowski.

Joe Boggs was the heart of the Basin defense, collecting 6 1/2 tackles, 2 of which were for a loss. Timothy Fair also recorded 4 tackles and an interception in the blowout win.

The Cougars will play 0-3 Whitwell in their second conference game of the year on Friday, September 18th as they look to keep their undefeated season alive.