MONTICELLO – Lawrence County stopped a South Pike 2-point conversion attempt with 1:16 left in the game, preserving the Cougars’ 28-27 win in Division 7-4A high school football action Friday night, at LCHS.

South Pike drove 92 yards in 13 plays in the final minutes of the game, scoring on a D.J. Slocum 2-yard run, to set up the dramatic finale. Slocum again carried around the right side on the 2-point try, but was stopped by Lawrence County’s T-Tez Cole inside the 1-yard line.

The win improved Jaymie Palmer’s Cougars to 5-4 overall, and 1-2 in Division 7-4A play. The five wins for Lawrence County are the most the Cougars have gotten in a season since going 6-6 in 2010. South Pike, coached by Michael Andrews, fell to 3-6 on the year, and 0-3 in the division.

Lawrence County never trailed in the game, after grabbing the lead midway through the first quarter. However, the Cougars repeatedly failed to put the game away, setting up South Pike’s last-ditch opportunity. LCHS scored in the last minute of the first half to grab a commanding 21-6 lead. However, South Pike’s John Jones returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown, getting the Eagles back in the game.

Late in the game, leading 28-21, Lawrence County marched the length of the field, and appeared poised to close out the game, only to fumble the football away at the South Pike 8-yard line. South Pike again took advantage of its new life, putting together the epic drive that almost pulled out the win.

“We’re happy to win the game,” said Palmer, “happy to remain undefeated on our home field. But it’s frustrating that we weren’t able to close out the game. We had our chances to put them away, but couldn’t do it. Give credit to South Pike. They fought hard for 48 minutes.”

Lawrence County grabbed a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter, scoring on a 45-yard run by Quitten Brown. Joshua Stephens kicked the first of four straight extra points, and those proved to be the difference in the game.

South Pike responded immediately, buoyed by a 46-yard run by Jaxavian Holmes. That set up Slocum’s 11-yard touchdown run. The extra point kicked was blocked.

Early in the second quarter, Lawrence County’s Cole scored on a 10-yard run, set up by Brown’s 54-yard burst on an option pitchout. For the night, Brown gained 170 yards on 14 carries.

After that, interceptions foiled scoring opportunities for both teams. First, Lawrence County’s Kemarcus Brown picked off a Qauvonte Adams pass deep in LCHS territory. After the Cougars drove into Eagle territory, South Pike’s Justin Givnes stepped in front of a Charl’Tez Nunnery pass.

Late in the half, Brown scored his second touchdown of the night, an 8-yarder, set up by Nunnery’s 47-yard sprint. Brown’s touchdown came with 36 seconds left in the half. It looked as though the Cougars would take a relatively comfortable 21-6 lead into the locker room.

Enter South Pike’s Jones. Hauling the football in at the South Pike 30, Jones pieced together a kickoff return that evoked memories of Billy Cannon’s epic run. Jones broke tackle attempts by seemingly every player on the LCHS kickoff squad, finally crossing the goal line with 17 seconds left on the clock. Eagles’ quarterback, Adams, scored on a 2-point run and made it a 21-14 game.

Lawrence County struck quickly at the start of the second half, scoring on a 51-yard Nunnery-to-Marcus Atterberry catch and run. The Cougars led 28-14.

Again, the Cougars had a seemingly comfortable two-touchdown lead; however, it didn’t last long. Three plays after Atterberry’s touchdown, Adams hit Marquez Andrews for 51 yards and a touchdown. Andrews’ extra point cut the lead to 28-21.

That set up the big finish. First, Lawrence County put together a masterful 10-play, clock-eating drive, all of it on running plays. But, on first-and-goal from the South Pike 7-yard line, a big hit caused Cole to fumble the football away. South Pike’s Lapatrick Nimox recovered.

With 7:01 left, South Pike embarked on its epic, going the length of the field on 13 plays. D.J. Slocum carried most of the load, at one point ripping off consecutive runs of 22, 26, and 10 yards. Slocum scored on a 2-yard run, but Cole gained redemption for his fumble, stopping Slocum about a foot short of the goal line on the game-deciding 2-point conversion attempt.

Slocum led South Pike with 101 yards on 15 carries. Jaxavian Holmes rushed seven times for 58 yards. Along with Quitten Brown’s big rushing night, Cole gained 69 yards on 12 attempts. Nunnery had 65 yards on 10 carries, and Jarius Snell rushed eight times for 40 yards.

Nunnery completed four of five passes for 54 yards. Atterberry had two catches. Tight ends, Cedric Rhodes and Lane Rutland, also had pass receptions. Unofficially, Cole led the LCHS defense with 13 primary and assisted tackles.