On a special Thursday night edition of high school football, your Macon County Tigers took on the Goodpasture Cougars. After an incredibly hard fought game by both teams, the Cougars beat the Tigers 36-16. The game was a hard loss for the Tigers, as they drop to 0-3 on the season and 0-1 in district play.

It didn’t look good from the beginning. The Cougars were all over the Tigers defense from the get go. #24 Eric Reed of Goodpasture seemed to have the Tigers defensive playbook on his wrist, as he seemed to find every tiny hole that may have been opened up for him. Reed would have had a 65 yard TD run right off the bat if it hadn’t been reversed because of holding. However, the Tigers tightened up on defense and tried to stop the Cougars. Unfortuneatly, the Cougars ran in a 3 yard TD and made it 7-0. The Tigers nor the Cougars would score anymore points in the quarter, though.

In the second quarter, the Tigers drove down the field and it looked like they would score. They sadly came up short. Zach Ghazi would kick a 30 yard field goal, though, and it made it 7-3. Goodpasture would later kick a field goal and that made it 10-3. The most heart-renching moment of the game, though, came in the ending of the second quarter. With 48 seconds left, Goodpasture kicked the ball to Aaron Carter. Carter would catch the ball, get hit hard, and fumble. Goodpasture, of course, happened to be in the right place at the right time, as they picked up the fumble and ran it in for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the half. They would miss the extra point, and the score would be 16-3 Goodpasture at the end of the first half.

After a fantastic performance by your Macon County High School Band, the Tigers came back onto the field and looked fierce. The whole stadium saw that the first half was over, and it was time for some good ol’ fashioned Tiger football! Unfortuneatly, the Cougars had other plans. They scored quickly and didn’t convert the two point conversion, and the score was 22-6. After a three-and-out by the Tigers, the Cougars marched down the field but, this time, they were met with a Senior force. That force was Aaron Carter! Carter picked off a pass at the 7 yard line and started running. Carter didn’t stop until he was safely in the endzone! Or so he thought. There was a block-in-the-back call on the Tigers and the interception was reversed.

Caleb Pedigo, who commited the block-in-the-back foul (no hard feelings fans), knew after that play, he would have to redeem himself. Redemption is sweet, Mr. Pedigo. The Cougars would pass from their own 28 yard line, and Pedigo picked it off at the 30 and ran it back for a touchdown (after he made sure not to touch anyone on his way in). The Tigers two point conversion was no good, and at the end of the third, the Tigers were down 22-9.

After what started out as a phenomonal 4th quarter turned into disaster, the Tigers couldn’t bounce back. At the beginning of the fourth, the Cougars attempted to fake a punt, but the Tigers read it and tackled the punter at the Cougar 35 yard line! Sadly, the first offensive play for the Tigers, a 25 yard pass by Carter, was picked off by new Tiger Bait: #24 Eric Reed of Goodpasture. Reed would return the interception for a touchdown. The Cougars would score one more time and it was 36-9 Cougars. On a good note: the Tigers scored their first offensive touchdown of the season late in the fourth on a 30 yard run by Aaron Carter. That wouldn’t be enough, though, as the Tigers fell to Goodpasture 36-16.

The Tigers had 7 first downs in this game. Penalties were at a minimum which is always a high note. The Tigers had 25 overall rushes for 121 yards, averaging 4.8 yards per carry. We lost 1 of 2 fumbles in this game and were 1 for 2 on fourth down conversions.

Aaron Carter went 7-13 and passed for 36 yards and an interception.Carter also ran the ball 6 times for 65 yards and a touchdown. Shane Hesson ran the ball 12 times for 51 yards. K.J Kitchens had 4 catches for 13 yards. Leading the way in tackles were Tyler Sircy with 10 and Caleb Pedigo with 9. The Tigers have a bye week next week, but on September 14, Macon County travels to Sycamore at 7 pm. Come out and support your Macon County Tigers!