Edinburgh’s Bailey Totten (13) finds a big hole to run through against Greenwood Christian.
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
Rob Baker | For the Daily Journal
By Ken Severson
For The Republic
EDINBURGH — One more for the road for Greenwood Christian.
After a couple of missed opportunities on what seemed like sure touchdowns, the visiting Cougars wore down Edinburgh 35-6 Friday night, and in the process evened up their record at 2-2 before finally having their first home game of the season next week.
Moreover, the Cougars now have possession of the new Johnson County Wheat Bowl traveling trophy, which goes to the winner in this 2-year old rivalry.
“We’re excited for this win and it’s a big deal for the building of our program,” GCA coach Andre Dobson said. “We now have a trophy to pass back and forth between us and Edinburgh.”
Everyone knows that speed kills, and the Cougars had plenty of that with sophomore quarterback Trey Dobson and running back Evan McIntire.
Dobson ran for three scores and threw for 100 yards and a touchdown, while McIntire rushed for a game-high 146 yards and a score as the Cougars tallied 401 total yards — a season high.
“Just glad we were able to get things going,” Dobson said. “We challenged them to step up and play at halftime, and they did that and we’re proud of them.”
For Edinburgh, it was a frustrating night. Not only because the Lancers (0-4) are still looking for win No. 1, but because nothing seemed to go right on offense after a few breaks. The defense played well, with a couple of stellar goal-line stands, but the Lancers couldn’t get the big play offensively.
There were moments on offense for Edinburgh, but the drives soon fizzled out, an all-too-familiar pattern this season.
Edinburgh had its chances, but the Lancers frittered them away with two interceptions and three fumbles to snuff out potential scores.
“We didn’t execute,” Edinburgh coach Tyler DeSpain said. “The defense played great and (Greenwood Christian) had their hiccups, but we couldn’t handle the ball.”
Twice the Cougars took the ball to the Lancer 1-yard line in the first half — and both times, the Lancers thwarted the drives. On the first, Cougar back Nathan Goins was stopped just short of the end zone. It happened again in the second quarter, this time with some help from the Cougars themselves. GCA got to the 1 again, then lost 39 yards thanks to two penalties and two sacks of Trey Dobson. Dobson had thrown an apparent touchdown pass, but a personal foul by the Cougars negated that and instead Greenwood Christian had nothing to show for their drives.
That changed with Dobson’s 32-yard scramble to the outside corner of the end zone with 1:43 left in the half.
Dobson scored again, from 17 yards out, but in reality, he could have been credited with a 50-yard run as he zig-zagged across the field twice to find the end zone and make it 14-0.
He scored again in the third on a more conventional 26-yard run late in the third and threw a 15-yard strike to Goins in the fourth.
McIntire also scored for the Cougars on a 13-yard scamper.
The Lancers finally got on the board when Caleb Murphy threw to Connor Ramey, who made a one-handed catch late in the fourth quarter.
Both teams still need to work on their discipline as Edinburgh was flagged six times for 53 yards (with one penalty costing them a touchdown) while the Cougars had nine for 70, two of which also cost them scores.
“That’s definitely on our mind and we’re trying to get that fixed,” Dobson said.
Greenwood Christian hosts Milan next week while Edinburgh travels to North Daviess.
