Bobcats miss out on playoffs following 21-0 loss

For the Oliver Springs Bobcats, their playoff hopes and aspirations rested on a unique scenario, a game against the Williamsburg Yellow Jackets, a team that averages 48 points per game in Kentucky high

Goose Lindsay

Shawn Childress picks up yards during last week’s game with Wartburg.

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school football.

The Bobcats managed to, for the most part, slow down the high-tempo offense, but in what was a very bizarre game that saw many turnovers on both sides and so much laundry on the field that the town of Oliver Springs perhaps could have opened another laundromat business, the Bobcats fell one game short of the TSSAA playoffs in a bitter 21-0 defeat. 

The first half was filled with more interceptions than completions for both teams, and the best offense turned out to be a strong defense. 

The Bobcats appeared to have drawn first blood to close out the first half on a head-scratching offensive play call by Williamsburg to throw the ball deep to end the half. The old saying that three things can happen when a team passes a ball and two of them aren’t good proved to be true for Williamsburg as Oliver Springs’ Michael Nelson picked off the pass and appeared to return the errant pass for a touchdown. But a flag on the field against the Bobcats nullified the play and would ultimately end the half tied at 0-0. 

Williamsburg would finally break the offensive filibuster with a lengthy drive in the third quarter riddled with curious penalties that left the Bobcat faithful feeling like it was the biggest charity drive this side of a Jerry Lewis telethon, but nevertheless, the Jackets would penetrate the end zone to take the lead by a 6-0 margin. 

Oliver Springs would try valiantly to get on the board, but with the offense either having bad luck or no luck at all, it allowed the Jackets to pull away down the stretch with a couple of late scores in the game to push the final margin to 21-0. 

But if there is any light at the end of the tunnel for the dejected purple and gold fans, at least they return many starters from this team in 2013 and have much to build on for next season.

 Oliver Springs ends the season with a 4-6 record.