Wildcats’ losing streak ends at 12 games with win over Jasper

An early second quarter defensive adjustment by Diamond led the Wildcats to a 32-20 come-from-behind victory over the Jasper Eagles Friday at Jasper High School.

The first quarter was the Jeff Piepenbrink show.

The junior Eagle wide out rang up 140 all-purpose yards and scored three touchdowns in the first period as Jasper built up a 20-6 lead over the Wildcats.

Piepenbrink scored on the first play from scrimmage, hauling in a swing pass from Jasper quarterback Drew Harvey. Piepenbrink made it to the corner and outraced the defense to the endzone for a 77-yard touchdown and a 6-0 Jasper lead.

Piepenbrink scored again on a 5-yard end-around on Jasper's next possession. The play was set up by a 41-yard jaunt by junior running back Austin Spencer.

Diamond responded with an impressive 16-play, 75-yard drive, which ended in a 14-yard touchdown run by junior running back C.P. Bycroft. That Wildcat drive foreshadowed the second half, as the Eagle defense began to have a difficult time stopping Diamond's rushing attack.

Bycroft and senior Cameron Scribner combined for 373 rushing yards and all five Diamond touchdowns.

After Jasper recovered an attempted Wildcat onside kick, Piepenbrink went around the left end again and scored on a 44-yard touchdown run on the first play of the drive.

As the first quarter came to a close, the Eagles had run six plays from scrimmage, and scored on three of them. Piepenbrink seemed unstoppable, and it appeared a Jasper rout was on.

Diamond defensive coordinator, Aaron Davied, made adjustments, however, to stop Piepenbrink, and changed the course of the game.    

Although he wouldn't come right out and say what the adjustments were, Diamond Head Coach Derek Scroggins praised Davied's coaching after the game.

"Aaron Davied made some excellent adjustments to stop (Piepenbrink)," Scroggins said. "He changed his calls and executed his defense excellently, and I'm proud of the way he did it."

Piepenbrink picked up just 10 yards on five carries during the rest of the game. Jasper's offense began to falter, and the Wildcat offense picked up steam.

Bycroft scored on a 2-yard plunge on Diamond's next possession to make the score 20-12. That drive was highlighted by two long-yardage conversions by