By JON WEBB
GLASGOW — With three seconds to go and with their cleats planted firmly inside their own 10-yard line, Glasgow was drenched with second-half rain and was facing the possibility of a wasted comeback.
After falling behind 14-0 in the first quarter, the Scotties fought back to gain a 26-22 lead. And with three seconds remaining in the game, they were almost on the verge of losing it.
Herrin’s (Ill.) quarterback dropped back to pass and looked for his receiver, only to find Glasgow’s Blake Copass instead, who intercepted the throw to secure a 26-22 victory for the Scotties over Herrin in the first game of the interstate National Guard Warrior Bowl in Marion, Ky.
“It was unbelieveable,” Glasgow head coach Rick Wood said. “They jumped up on us and we hung in there. I can’t say enough about the players.”
Herrin, a team out of Southern Illinois, jumped on the Scotties early, using its size and three big running backs (David Mallow, Tyler Gooden and DeMarlo Harris) to take an early advantage. Herrin, who went 8-3 in 2008, gained 327 yards on the ground.
“Their backs were bigger than our linemen,” Wood said.
Down 14-0 in the first quarter, Glasgow quarterback Parker Cash found Tavion Parrish on a screen pass that went 57 yards for a touchdown.
“That play changed the momentum,” Wood said.
By halftime, Glasgow had a 19-14 lead, and were having success both with the running and passing game. After throwing for only 27 yards in the Scottie’s season opener, Cash was 7-10 for 129 yards with a touchdown in the first half.
And then the rain came.
“It dropped a monsoon on us,” Wood said. “It just rained the entire time. We (were) soaked.”
According to Wood, the Scotties had to play more conservatively in the second half on account of the weather, and only scored one touchdown (a Parrish 26-yard sweep) in the final 24 minutes.
Herrin added another touchdown in the second half as well, and on the final drive of the game came within 10 yards of a win on a very difficult, torrential-downpour type of night.
The game was Herrin’s first of the year, so the Scotties went into the game not knowing much about their opponent outside of game film from 2008.
Wood said Herrin was very big and very fast, and he was extremely proud of his team for not withering after getting down early.
“It was a great win,” Wood said. “I know it’s a cliche, but it just took a total team effort.”
Cash rushed for 87 yards and two touchdowns. Parrish added 91 yards on the ground, and had both a rushing and receiving touchdown.
The Scotties came up big on the defensive end as well, forcing four Herrin turnovers. Copass recovered a fumble on top of his interception, and Jesse Poindexter picked off a pass as well. Copass’ fumble recovery set up the Scotties’ go-ahead touchdown.
Glasgow also beat Herrin without the services of starter Michael Bradley, who got sick the morning of the game.
The team will now turn their attention to next week’s rivalry game against Barren County, but on Friday, the mood more celebration than business-like.
“We (were) very fortunate to get out of here with a win,” Wood said.
