Hopkins County "Shoot-Out" Between
Como-Pickton and Cumby Goes to
Last Seconds of the Game

 

by: Bobby McDonald

Photos and reporting by David Stribling, Jr. and Tonya Runyan

 

 

"It was just the way an inter-county football game should be," exclaimed one devoted football fan. "The game went down to the last seconds with Cumby having the possibility of 'knocking on Como-Pickton's' door' and tying the game....but it wasn't meant to be on Friday night!"

Como-Pickton managed to stay alive and persevere to add a 22-14 win to their column, while the Cumby Trojans had to travel home across the county, with this year's loss. However, it was a hard-fought battle that everyone could be proud of!

 

 

Cumby fans were asking "what if, their number one quarterback, Timmy Cook, hadn't been injured?" as he was hurt early in the game and unable to finish Friday night's game, but then, Michael Morris was at helm of the team as they made a final assault on the Eagles, with less than one minute on the clock and on the 27 yard line. However, Como-Pickton was praising their defensive tackle, Corey Gibson, who stopped a Morris' quarterback sneak, and thwarted the last second efforts of the Trojans, and a defensive move by pass defender, Brodie Ogles, who broke-up a pass in the end-zone from Morris to Donnie Rodriguez.

 

 

 

"It's certainly a game that will be talked about all across the county, this week," allowed another fan. "The boys on both sides of the ball played hard and each team had their moments of excitement!"

 

 

 

Inundated with injuries and penalties, the first quarter of play ended in neither Cumby nor Como-Pickton scoring. And, it was with almost seven minutes left in the first half, that Trojan Zak Escobar intercepted a pass and put the Trojans in scoring position. Michael Morris run for a touchdown and put six points on the scoreboard for the Trojans. Taylor Gay's extra-point was good. Cumby led 7-0.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cumby's quarterback, Timmy Cook, was injured and replaced with Michael Morris, causing some realignment of the team.

 

 

And with less than a minute on the clock, Eagle running back, James Carter, on a "pitch-out" from Eagle quarterback, Jeff Hendricks, headed for the end-zone, posting 6 points on the scoreboard for the Eagles. And, Cumby thought they had blocked the extra-point attempt, by Como-Pickton. However, officials ruled that the ball had been picked-up by Robert Carden behind the line of scimmage and taken into the end-zone for a two-point conversion. Como-Pickton Eagles led the match-up 8-7, as both teams headed to the locker-room for halftime intermission.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Following halftime, the Trojans managed to again take the lead with a Rodney Hobbs run into the end-zone and a PAT by Gay; the score was 14-8.

 

 

 

But, don't count the Eagles's out yet, as Jeff Hendricks connected with Tanner Brumley for an Eagle touchdown and Angel Mercado's PAT was good. Score: Como-Pickton 15 - Cumby 14.

 

 

 

 

 

And, mid-way through the fourth quarter, following some outstanding action by James Carter and Tanner Brumley, the Eagles got within the ten yard line of Cumby and it was quarterback Jeff Hendricks, who "danced" across the goal line with a keeper. The extra-point was good and Como-Pickton managed the 22-14 lead, that resulted in the game score.

 

 

However, the Trojans managed one last assualt to keep fans on their seats to the last second of the ballgame, as Como-Pickton's defense came to the rescue and held onto the lead, until the clock ran out of time.

 

 

"I know it was a heartbreaking loss for the Trojans," exclaimed one Como-Pickton fan. "But, they played a tough game and certainly can be proud of their performance here at Como-Pickton tonight!"

Watch for both teams in action, next week, as the Como-Pickton Eagles will travel to Ore City, next Friday night. And, the Cumby Trojans will be at home, when they host Union Hill in a Saturday game, setting up another exciting weekend for fans of both ball clubs.

 

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