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Cougars win, get 7-0 start

By Paul Fogleman

Record Sports Correspondent

Published: October 10, 2009

TAYLORSVILLE - Bonnie Tyler's "Total Eclipse of the Heart" was the No. 1 song in the nation and audiences were flocking to films like "Never Say Never Again," "The Big Chill" and "Mr. Mom."

The 1983 snapshot was also the last time Alexander Central High ran through its first seven football games untarnished.

Capitalizing on three golden opportunities in the first quarter, the Cougars equaled the feat Friday night, running to a 21-point lead only to play the role of survivor the rest of the way and hold on for a 24-20 Northwestern 3A-4A Conference victory over visiting Hickory before a packed homecoming crowd.

The Red Tornadoes dug themselves an early hole, turning the ball over on their first three possessions, including fumbles on two of their first three plays.

The Cougars (7-0, 2-0) quickly pounced, needing five plays to convert a Casey Stinson fumble at Hickory's 39 into a 10-yard touchdown run by tailback Kyle Bradshaw.

After Shaquan Reid coughed the ball up on Hickory's next play, Alexander Central quickly struck again when Kyle Kinnaird connected with Zach Bumgarner on an 8-yard scoring toss, completing a 25-yard drive and giving the Cougars a 14-0 lead.

Kevin Markham then picked off Red Tornadoes quarterback Tyler Barnette on Hickory's ensuing series, and three plays later Bradshaw's 8-yard score gave Alexander Central a three-TD cushion with five minutes, 16 seconds still remaining in the opening quarter.

But while momentum was on the Cougars' side to start the game, it quickly shifted in the second quarter.

Patrick Smith's 33-yard field goal capped a 12-play, 63-yard drive, trimming the Red Tornadoes' deficit to 21-3.

Alexander Central then caught the turnover bug when Jason Hill intercepted a Kinnaird pass deep in the Red Tornadoes' territory.

T.J. Wimbush's 11-yard scoring run ended another 12-play drive, whittling the Cougars' lead to 21-10.

A blocked punt by Hickory (3-4, 1-2) on the Cougars' next series was then quickly turned into another score when Barnette and Fearious Anderson hooked up on a 29-yard TD pass with 1:16 left before the half.

D.J. Holloway then picked off a Kinnaird throw in the third quarter, returning the interception to the Alexander Central 10 before the Red Tornadoes had to settle for a 21-yard Smith field goal to pull within 21-20 at the 6:03 mark.

The Red Tornadoes then looked to strike gold again when they blocked a second Kinnaird punt, but Markham picked up the ball and ran to the Hickory 37. After a conference among the officials, it was ruled Hickory touched the ball beyond the line of scrimmage, allowing the Cougars to maintain possession.

Alexander Central took advantage of its break, getting a Matt Brown 20-yard field goal to stretch its lead to 24-20.

The Red Tornadoes had one final opportunity, beginning a drive at the Cougars' 49 after a 24-yard punt. But a fourth-and-2 call at the Alexander Central 28 came up short when Reid's run to the right gained only one yard.