By CHARLIE HUST
Webster County High School football squad seemed to have its second win of the year in hand Friday night, but a late field goal and interception from Hart County spoiled the victory celebration as the Raiders rallied for a 16-14 victory in Munfordville.
The loss was the fifth in a row for Webster (1-5) while Hart County improved to 3-3.
Despite amassing one of it’s season-high offensive total sof 195 yards for the game, Webster couldn’t find paydirt in the entire first half. HCHS managed just one score in the first two quarters.
Hart County, which had 290 total yards on the night, took the early lead with touchdown run from Brian Simmons with 6:13 left in the second quarter. Tyler Shirley tacked on the PAT for the 7-0 lead.
The Trojans looked to tie the game in the closing minute of the half, courtesy of an interception from Payton Bussell with 1:01 to go. Webster moved the ball all the way to the five-yard line, but the Raider defense held the Trojans from reaching the end zone for three straight plays. On the final play of the half, WC’s sophomore quarterback rolled right on the bootleg-keeper but two Hart County defenders forced Baty out of bounds before he could reach the end zone as the halftime buzzer sounded.
HCHS opened the second half with a 56-yard scoring drive, capped off by a 26-yard touchdown run from Darren Lynn with 8:25 left in the third quarter. The PAT was blocked by the Trojans, keeping the score at 13-0.
Webster’s offense came to life and answered the Raiders touchdown with a 65-yard scoring drive of its own, chewing up six minutes in the scoring march. Tre’ Wright led the charge with a 22-yard scamper to jump-start the drive, a 17-yard reception from Baty across midfield and then another strong run of all the way to the Hart 23-yard line.
Three plays later, the speedy junior running back plunged into the end zone from two yards out for the first touchdown of the night for the Trojans. Ethan Drury added the PAT to trim the lead to 13-7.
Grabbing the momentum, the Webster defense halted the Raiders on the next two series, setting up Webster’s go-ahead touchdown late in the game, thanks to a Hart County fumble.
After the turnover, it didn’t take long for Baty to find Wright with a perfect spiral, good for a 48-yard touchdown with 5:08 remaining in the contest. Drury’s point-after was down the middle as the Trojans took a 16-14 lead.
But Hart County didn’t panic, using two runs from Brian Simmons to travel from its own 25-yard line to Webster’s 38. The Trojans then aided the drive with a pair of costly penalties, moving the ball within the 10-yard line. The Raiders moved the ball to the three-yard line, but Webster held them out of the end zone on three consecutive stops. So Hart opted for the field goal on fourth down and Tyler Shirley split the uprights with the 20-yard field goal with 2:42 remaining in the game.
Webster moved close to midfield on its final drive as Baty hooked up with Zach Bruce and Jamon Warren. But with 1:33 to go, Hart County’s sophomore defensive back John Hayes picked off a Baty pass at the 50-yard line and the interception sealed the victory for the Raiders.
Baty enjoyed another strong night passing, finishing with 141 yards through the air, Wright led the Trojans in rushing with 57 yards.Webster also hurt it’s chances in the contest with nine penalties for 110 yards.
The Trojans will get a week off before running their ‘District gauntlet’ starring Oct. 11 against Trigg County, Fort Campbell and Paducah Tilghman on consecutive weeks.