.jpg)
Wlaf1450By JAKE MILLER
JACKSBORO, TN (WLAF)- The Campbell County Cougars and Karns Beavers rivalry did not lack excitement Friday night as the two teams battled in a very late game. As a heat advisory was in place to push the start time back turned into a lightning delay, the teams finally got the game started shortly after 8:45pm.
Campbell County received the ball first and after a 32-yard kick-off return by upback Sam Sexton was in business at the Karns 41. The Cougars did not shy away from the run game as Braydon Graham led by a stout offensive line marched the Cougar offense down the field inside Karns 30 yard line. Offensive Coordinator Tyler Drummer never had a doubt as he drew up a 4th down and seven play to set up a 27 yard pass from quarterback Silas Weaver to wide receiver Sam Sexton, who was wide open in the west end zone, to take a 6-0 lead followed by a Drew Croley point after.
Karns answered right back with its on own long kick-off return. Then the Beavers ground game began rolling as running back Demarcus Jones took the hand off into the end zone from 10 yards out to tie the game 7-7.
The ensuing drive saw the passing attack set the Cougars up once again as Weaver found wide out Tyler Cook down the south sideline to move the ball into Karns territory. After a pass interference call, Weaver took advantage and scored on a quarterback sneak to give the lead back to the Cougars. After a blocked extra point, the score was 13-7 with Cougars leading going into the second quarter.
The Beavers took advantage on the following three drives that included an interception and a blocked punt. The Beavers stretched their lead to 28-13.
With the first half winding down, and no defensive back on the right side of the field, Weaver found Sexton again for pay dirt. Sexton’s second touchdown of the half brought the Cougars to within eight points at 28-20.
It looked as if Karns would tack on six more with under 10 seconds to go, but a heads up play by freshman defensive lineman Deason Rubio kept the Beavers out of the end zone. Rubio recovered a Jones fumble on the 5 yard line to keep the score 20-28 at halftime.
The Beaver offense played keep away from the Cougar offense and ran the ball to keep possession of the ball through the first nine minutes of the 3rd quarter and extended the lead to 35-20.
The 4th quarter was nothing short of exciting as Weaver connected with Tyler Cook on a perfectly thrown ball to cut the lead to 35-27.
After forcing a punt, Campbell County was pinned back at its own goal line in its toughest starting spot all season. After two carries by Braydon Graham to set up 3rd & five, Weaver found a familiar target in Sam Sexton on a 73 yard pass to move the Cougars closer to the red zone. Graham made his way into the end zone to cut into the lead 35-33 as a two-point conversion try was unsuccessful.
Karns drained the clock with Demarcus Jones capping off the drive to score with under a minute left to secure a 42-33 victory for the Beavers.
Campbell takes to the road for the first time this season to visit the Knoxville Central Bobcats in a 7pm start on Sept. 11.
Jake’s Take:
This team is capable of putting all of the pieces in place, and in ways, they have. At the end of the day, when your offense is averaging over 30 points per game, you give yourself a shot to win. Campbell County did not lose this game because of bad play calling, nor did they lose this game because they gave up an laid down. Karns made two special teams plays that became the deciding factor with a blocked extra point and a blocked punt to set them up for a victory.
Player of the Game:
WR – Sam Sexton – 181 Yards – 7 Catches – 2 Touchdowns
Stats:
QB – Silas Weaver – (12-16) – 293 Yards – 3 Touchdowns (1 Rushing TD)
WR – Tyler Cook – 106 Yards – 5 Catches – 1 Touchdown
RB – Braydon Graham – 17 Carries – 48 Yards – 1 Touchdown
DL – Jacob Clark – 11.5 Tackles – 1 Sack
(WLAF NEWS PUBLISHED-09/05/2026-10AM)