This year’s visit to the Valley came down to the wire, with the Cougars prevailing 28-27 and breaking a long losing streak. Basin had mounted a two-touchdown lead in the fourth quarter, and Andrews rallied late to score twice. A failed-two point conversion and a missed field goal proved just enough luck to secure the Cougars a hard-fought victory against the Wildcats on homecoming.

Both teams were winless going into the game…with Basin coming off a near-upset of Silverdale the week before. Now only Andrews remains winless. Basin won the turnover battle and largely won the field position game. That coupled with determination and minimal penalties became a winning formula for the Cougars.

The Cougars travel to Nashville to play the Tigers of East Literature Magnet School this Friday. Football at East Literature was nonexistent for years, but they recently have restarted the program and are in their first full season.

FIRST QUARTER

Andrews received the opening kickoff  and picked up three first downs to advance to the Basin 25. The Cougar defense stiffened, forcing a turnover on downs.  The Cougars opened their drive from their own 30 with a bruising 4 yard run from Zach White. Two plays later, Basin faced a 3rd and 1 situation and lured Andrews off sides, converting the first down. On the next play, Justin Teems broke loose through the middle, bolting to the end zone for a 56-yard touchdown run. The extra point was blocked, making it 6-0 CB with 4:42 left in the quarter.

The Wildcats received the kickoff at their own 20, but were forced to punt. Basin started its second offensive series from their own 12. Teems continued to be a playmaker, churning his way for 10 yards and a first down…Quarterback Eric Sisson connected with Jerad Potter with a pass down the home sideline, advancing to the Andrews 28. Basin continued to roll as Jonah Dickey picked up 7 yards as the quarter expired.

SECOND QUARTER

Basin changed direction with the new quarter but the offense kept rolling, scoring three plays later with a touchdown run by Jonah Dickey. Cougar Coaches elected to go for the 2 point conversion, and made it, as Sisson dumped a pass off to Colby Panter to make it 14-0 with 10:55 left before the half. Trae Holiway delivered a solid kickoff, sailing the ball out the back of the end zone for a touchback. Andrews started on their own 20 and drove from there, marching down into Basin territory. The Wildcats launched a pass into the end zone, only to be swatted away by Potter. This forced a 4th and 8 situation, and they went for it, scoring on a pitch pass. The extra point made it 14-7 CB with 5:49 left in the quarter. Andrews went for the onside kick and recovered, setting up shop at the CB 36. They heaved a pass down the sideline all the way down to the Cougar 1, and punched it in for six with a dive up the middle on the next play. That tied the ballgame with 3:32 left before half at 14-all.Teems returned the kickoff from his own 21 all the way to the Andrews 32. Unfortunately, the Cougars were unsuccessful in scoring and were forced to punt.The Wildcats looked to drive again, starting from their own 9 and quickly picked up another first down. Some trickery from Andrews blew up, as they tried another pitch pass, and this time it was intercepted by Matt Ray with 36 seconds left in the half. Now with the ball, Basin simply elected to run out the clock, preserving the tie at halftime.

THIRD QUARTER

Copper Basin received the kickoff and started on the Cougar 27. After losses on the first two plays, Sisson hooked up with Austin Dickey for a first down pass down at the CB 39. Two plays later, they connected again for another first down, moving the Cougars to midfield. Justin Teems then carried the ball down to the Andrews 32 yard line.

Shortly thereafter, Basin faced a 3rd and 10 situation. Sisson, out of the shotgun, rolled to his left, and then rolled back to his right, trying to avoid defenders. After almost bumping into his own player, Sisson threw a pass across his body to Austin Dickey, on a crossing route. Dickey hauled in the pass and cut back up field, going in for a 32-yard touchdown to make it 21-14 with 7:29 left in the quarter. After the touchdown both teams exchanged punts. Andrews received the ball again at their own 19. A big Wildcat run plus a facemask advanced Andrews to their own 40. The Wildcats then struck again through the air, completing a pass for a big gain to move into Cougar territory. Fortunately for Basin, they fumbled on the next play, and Teems recovered.

After the fumble Basin set up another promising series. Starting from their own 31, they moved the ball primarily off of runs from Zach White. White toted the rock four times in the drive, carrying his team all the way to the end zone for another Cougar Touchdown. Holiway’s point-after made it 28-14 CB with 34.6 left in the quarter.

FOURTH QUARTER

Andrews went right to work trying to chip away at their two-touchdown deficit. In four plays, they advanced from their own 34 to the CB 36. The Cougar defense bowed their back, forcing a turnover on downs. Unfortunately, the Basin offense gave the ball right back on a fumble. Andrews resumed possession at the Cougar 37. A quarterback keeper around the sideline made it in for a touchdown, but was called back. The next play, Matt Harrington sacked the quarterback and forced a fumble, which was recovered by Basin. Basin was forced to punt, and Andrews picked up at their own 38. Two big passes, one for 19 yards and another for 39 yards, capped a Wildcat scoring drive that made it 28-21 with 5:02 left in the game.

The Cougars’ two-score lead continued to deteriorate. Basin returned the kickoff but threw an interception, which Andrews ran back to the Basin 20. The Wildcats scored two plays later on a touchdown pass from 15 yards out. With 2:45 left in the game, they decided to go for the win instead of the tie, sending the offense back out instead of the kicking team. The pass attempt was incomplete, leaving Andrews short 28-27. It wasn’t over yet. Basin received the kickoff and was forced to punt, giving Andrews the ball back at the Wildcat 31 with 1:57 left in the game. Two incomplete passes coupled with an offsides penalty made it 3rd and 15 from the Wildcat 26. Strangely enough, an unsportsmanlike conduct penalty was called on the Basin sideline, giving Andrews just what they needed – fifteen yards and a first down. The next play Andrews completed a pass over the middle, advancing down to the Basin 20 as time continued to tick.

The Wildcats burned their last timeout with 6.6 seconds left in the game, trying to kick a field goal from the Basin 15 (a 32 yard attempt) . The attempt was low and away, securing the win for the Cougars.