Trailing 28-6 halfway through the third quarter, McLean County found its stride off the back of its run game, scoring 14 unanswered points. Needing a stop late in the fourth quarter, the Cougars were unable to get off the field, falling to Hart County 28-20.
Hart County took a 14-0 lead into halftime after scoring in both the first and second quarters. Trailing 21-0 in the third quarter, Aden Bolden put the Cougars on the board after punching it in from one yard out. Hart County responded to push the lead to 28-6, but McLean County quickly marched back down the field. A 20-yard run by Bolden and a 15-yard run from Hunter Stratton set up AB scoring again from one yard out.
The Cougars’ special teams immediately made their presence felt, forcing and recovering a fumble on the kickoff. Riley Walker kept the team’s drive alive converting on fourth down, setting up Trokoby Gill to score from eight yards out.
Head Coach Zach Wagner acknowledged that his team struggled in the first half and couldn’t overcome their mental mistakes.
“We played a better second half though,” Wagner said. “We fought back in the second half.”
The Cougars will be back in action next Friday when they travel to Webster County.
