Meigs County sneaks by Polk County, moves to 8-0

BY JEFF CATE (TEAM FYN SPORTS CONTRIBUTOR) – Defense set the tone in Friday’s 67^th meeting between Meigs County and Polk County. With rain in and out of the area during the game, each offense did the same. Meigs County, the number 3 team in 3A going into the game, had the game’s only score in the 3^rd quarter as the Tigers held on for a 7-0 victory over the Wildcats at the Larry Davis Football Complex in Benton Friday night to keep their unbeaten season going.

The first quarter saw Meigs County turn it over on their first possession, giving Polk County great field position for their first offensive possession of the game near midfield. The Tigers defense would answer the call later in this possession when Ethan Meadows stepped in front of a Cade Brewer pass on 4^th down and deflected it inside the red zone for a turnover on downs. Meigs County was on the move for points near the end of the first quarter after Meadows found Tuff Ricker for about a 40-yard gain down to the Wildcats’ 10-yard line. It was 0-0 after the first twelve minutes.

Early in the second quarter on the same Meigs County drive, the drive stalled out and the Tigers settled for a field goal attempt from Michael Kraskouskas. Kraskouskas’ attempt was low and blocked, then picked up by Cecil Burns and returned near midfield for the Wildcats.

“@MeigsCountyFB drive stalled, @PCHSFootball22 blocked the FG attempt and ran it back close to midfield! #OTB423 #WGOWRedZone30 @OffTheBenchCHA @redzonescores @jlsimsy @CorePower @97_sports @sportscowboy @Carlito25Way @SOTGsmoke @curtredzone”

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But the Tigers defense answered once again, stopping Polk County on 4^th down when Brewer scrambled away from pressure but was brought down by Logan Purgason. Polk County would get the football back soon after, recovering a Tigers’ fumble at their 22-yard line. The Wildcats weren’t able to do anything with it, giving Meigs County an opportunity late in the first half for the first score of the game. Meadows and company drove down field, getting inside the 5-yard line with time running out. Meigs County attempted to punch it in twice in the final 30 seconds, but weren’t able to cash in. Meadows was met by Burns at the 2-yard line with 5 seconds left but was stopped short and the score at halftime was 0-0.

The third quarter began the same way the first half went, all defense. Then Brewer and Damian McWilliams went to work for the Wildcats as Polk County was getting near the red zone. Meigs County then recovered a Polk County fumble at their 30-yard line. In a game where Meigs County dominated on the ground with 46 carries for 247 yards, it was the passing the game that gave the Tigers the first and only score of the evening. The Tigers drove to the Polk County 23 yard line after the turnover, then took a 7-0 lead with 5:27 left in the quarter when Meadows found Ricker behind the secondary and hung onto the ball after a big hit from McWilliams.

“@MeigsCountyFB with the first points of the night on this 23 yard pass/catch, lead @PCHSFootball22 7-0; 5:27/3Q #OTB423 #WGOWRedZone30 @OffTheBenchCHA @redzonescores @jlsimsy @CorePower @97_sports @sportscowboy @Carlito25Way @SOTGsmoke @curtredzone”

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Meigs County had a chance to go up 2 scores late in the quarter but an 88-yard touchdown pass was called back due to a penalty.

Polk County was in business when McWilliams went up in triple coverage and hauled in a Brewer pass that covered about 50 yards to get inside the Tigers’ 40-yard line early in the fourth quarter.

“@brewercade10 finds @DMcwilliams_12 & @PCHSFootball22 is on the move with less than 8 mins left in the game! #OTB423 #WGOWRedZone30 @OffTheBenchCHA @redzonescores @jlsimsy @CorePower @97_sports @sportscowboy @Carlito25Way @SOTGsmoke @curtredzone”

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The Wildcats were turned away again on fourth down with 7:43 to go when Eli Malone slipped through the offensive line and sacked Brewer.

“Our defense has a bend but don’t break mentality”, Meigs County head coach Tommy Bunch said. “We got stops when we needed to and that was huge”.

Meigs County then moved down field, looking to put the game away. But with 4:47 left in the game, the Tigers fumbled after gaining a first down and Polk County recovered at their 11-yard line. About 3 minute later and Polk County on the move, Coach Bunch’s defense returned the favor as the Tigers’ defense recovered a fumble at their 37-yard line to put the game away.

“That was a tough win”, Bunch said. “I’m very proud of our kids for doing what it takes to win a ball game in a tough environment”.

Meigs County moves to 8-0 on the year and has 2 region games remaining at home, beginning with Brainerd next week. Polk County drops to 3-4 on the season and hits the road to take on Sweetwater next Friday night.

Follow Jeff Cate on “X” at @TheJeffCate