Cougars let one get away against Bath

DAVE MOSIER/independent sports

LIMA — It happened in the first game of the season, it almost happened last week, and it happened again this week as the Van Wert Cougars again let a game slip away from them in a 15-14 Western Buckeye League loss to Lima Bath at Bath.

The Cougars began the scoring with 7:03 remaining in the first quarter when quarterback Colin Smith ran it in from seven yards out for the first touchdown of the game. Gavin Gardner kicked the extra point and it was 7-0, Van Wert.

Bath got the next score on a team safety with 8:49 remaining in the second quarter and the score was 7-2 at halftime.

After the break, the Cougars got another score with 9:06 remaining in the third quarter when Smith bulled it over from the 1-yard line to give Van Wert a 13-2 lead. Gardner again kicked the PAT and it was 14-2, Cougars.

As the fourth quarter began, it looked like Van Wert 14-2 lead would hold up, but the Wildcats, whose offense had sputtered up to then, had other ideas.

After dropping passes all night — including 13 missed catches in a row earlier in the game — Bath’s receivers suddenly began hauling in quarterback Cam Jenkins’ throws, including a 39-yard touchdown pass to Luke Niebel with 8:49 remaining in the game that brought Bath within six, 14-8. The point-after kick was off to the side and that’s how the score remained.

Unfortunately, Van Wert couldn’t do much with its next possession and the Wildcats got the ball back with time running out. This time, Jenkins did the job with his legs, running the ball in from the Cougars’ 2-yard line to tie the game up at 14-all.

Also this time, Bath kicker Austin Lauf was up to the task, splitting the uprights on the PAT kick to give the Wildcats the victory.

With the loss, the Cougars are now 2-4 overall and 2-3 in the WBL, while Bath goes to 3-2 in league play and 3-3 overall.

Smith lead Van Wert offensively with 129 yards rushing and two touchdowns on 18 carries. Justis Tussing rushed for 76 yards on 21 carries, while Bath’s Jenkins had 70 yards and a TD on 14 carries.

Niebel led all receivers with seven catches for 116 yards and a touchdown.

Van Wert will play next Friday at Celina, which lost 21-13 to St. Marys in a WBL game this Friday.