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In a nail-biting Friday night showdown, Cook County High School edged out Bainbridge High School by a final score of 13-10. The game proved to be a hard-fought battle that was ultimately decided in the final minute.

Bainbridge’s defense set the tone early, stifling Cook County’s offense with back-to-back three-and-outs on the Hornets’ first two possessions. This early defensive dominance kept the Bearcats within striking distance despite their own offensive struggles. Bainbridge’s offense managed only 53 yards in the first half and finished with a modest 157 yards for the game. Their inability to convert on third downs—just 2 of 11 attempts—hampered their drive-sustaining efforts and scoring opportunities, especially early on in the game.

Cook County scored the game’s first points in the second quarter when they broke the deadlock with a 54-yard touchdown run, taking a 6-0 lead. However, their extra-point attempt was unsuccessful.

The third quarter saw a shift in momentum when Bainbridge’s Vontrey Willingham caught a 43-yard pass from Camryn Scott, putting the Bearcats ahead 7-6. In the fourth quarter, Bainbridge put together a fourteen-play, eighty-yard drive that was capped off by Riggs Rentz’s 45-yard field goal that extended the Bearcat’s lead to 10-6.

Unfortunately, the Hornets responded with a long drive of their own, which ended with a fifteen-yard touchdown pass, to take a 13-10 lead with only thirty-eight seconds left in the game.

Cook County’s last-minute heroics secured their win, leaving Bainbridge with a tough loss despite a good defensive showing. The Bearcats’ early offensive struggles and inability to sustain drives ultimately proved costly.