WHITESBURG — After defeating the Cougars during the regular season, Harlan County played like the better team once again in Friday’s rematch, but three second half turnovers and a failed extra point attempt were too much for the Bears to overcome as they fell to Letcher Central 14-13 in the second round of the Class 5A playoffs.

The Black Bear’ offense controlled the time of possession battle, running 61 offensive plays compared to only 40 by Letcher Central, but two turnovers deep in Letcher Central territory and a drive-killing fumble kept Harlan County from scoring in the second half.

“As long as we can keep the ball they weren’t going to score on us. I thought there were times in the game that we did things excellent, but the bad things caught up with us in the second half,” Harlan County coach Tom Larkey said. “The fumbles and turnovers really hurt us bad in the second half. The fumble at the end, when we had the ball on a drive and still had the lead, I feel like if we could have maintained that drive we could have put this ballgame away.”

On the defensive side of the ball, Harlan County lived up to its ‘Filthy Animals’ nickname, holding the Cougars to only 196 total yards, however the Bears’ failed to come up with one final stop as Letcher Central drove the ball 58 yards and converted on a third and 10 and a fourth and two on the way to score the go ahead touchdown with seven minutes remaining in the game.

The Bears’ pass defense had a particularly good night, allowing Letcher Central quarterback Logan Johnson to complete only two passes, while intercepting the standout sophomore twice.

“Our coverage was pretty good. Our secondary did fine. It was just coming up and making the hit on the outside plays and not putting enough pressure on the quarterback,” Larkey said.

Letcher Central looked poised to take the lead on its opening drive, moving the ball to the Harlan County 14, when Johnson took a quarterback draw around the left side and into the end zone. However, that play was called back due to a holding penalty, and the Bears’ defense held.

After a Cougar punt pinned Harlan County on its own 5, the Bears marched down the field on a 15-play drive that was capped by a 1-yard touchdown plunge by fullback Dwight Burgan on fourth and one. Sophomore Josh Jenkins added the extra point to give Harlan County a 7-0 lead with 1:02 remaining in the first quarter.

The Cougars quickly answered, moving the ball 65 yards on five plays, before Johnson ended the drive with a 15-yard touchdown run with 10:42 remaining in the second quarter. Senior McKenzie Smith added the extra point to tie the game at 7-7.

After the teams traded defensive stands, the Bears went on another long, time-consuming drive. Harlan County marched 90 yards in 12 plays, capped by a 6-yard touchdown run by sophomore tailback Cody Taylor. However, the ball got away from holder Jordy Brewer, and the Bears were unable to convert the extra point.

Harlan County had several opportunities to add to its lead in the second half, but self-inflicted mistakes kept them from ending the drives with points.

On its first possession of the second half, Harlan County consumed approximately seven minutes off the clock, and drove to the Cougars’ 30 before a pass from quarterback T.J. Green was intercepted by Johnson at the 12.

After forcing Letcher Central to a three and out on the ensuing possession, the Bears were poised to take over in good field position, but sophomore Marcus McMillian fumbled the punt, allowing the Cougars to regain possession at midfield.

On the following play, Brewer gave possession back to the Bears as he layed out to haul in an interception at the Harlan County 14.

The Bears drove into Letcher Central territory once again before a fumbled exchange between Green and Taylor gave possession back to the Cougars at their own 44.

Letcher Central took advantage this time, scoring 10 plays later on a 7-yard touchdown run by tailback Greg Collins. Smith added the extra point to give Cougars their first lead of the game with seven minutes remaining in the game.

After a 45-yard kickoff return set the Black Bears up with good field position, Harlan County made one more costly mistake when Green mishandled the shotgun snap on second and 10. Although the Bears were able to recover the fumble, they were unable to convert a first down to continue the drive.

Letcher Central coach Hillard Howard said he was pleased with the way his defense played in the second half.

“ Tom (Larkey) runs a good ball-control offense and they whipped us up front, but I thought in the second half we stepped it up and kept them out of the end zone,” he said. “It was just a good football game. It could have went either way and that extra point decided it.”

Letcher Central will travel to Pulaski County to face the Maroons in the Region 4 finals on Friday.