Logan County coach Todd Adler said his Cougars lost because they didn’t have experience in the playoffs and didn’t know how to prepare for a run.

Chalk that statement up to another reason the Logan County program jumped years ahead of schedule. Rather than resting on laurels of a season pulled out of a hat, the Cougars want to figure out how to win in the playoffs.

“It was just a big learning experience for us,” Adler said. “I think you need experience when you get to the playoffs and our kids didn’t have that and I didn’t have that. We exceeded all expectations of my goals and probably everyone else’s, so that was a success for us. We’re going to use this defeat to learn from and continue to build a program on.”

Sounds like a program that’s been there instead of one that pulled off one of the biggest turnarounds in state history.

Recap: Logan County didn’t win a game during a four-year span that stretched 42 games. It went through two head coaches before Adler, a 2004 LCHS graduate, jumped from coaching the middle school to taking over the high school program. The games were tighter and running clocks were fewer in 2016.

The Cougars finally got a win in the 2016 finale at Todd County Central and never looked back. They pulled off the school’s first undefeated regular season with signature wins over crosstown rival Russellville and at home against Hopkinsville.

They hosted the first-ever playoff game at Cougar Stadium and earned their first playoff win since 2009 by routing Warren Central.

And that was enough. Adler said it felt his players were satisfied with one playoff win and didn’t have the same edge that an emotionally driven Hopkinsville team had in Friday’s rematch.

The Tigers pounced early with a 43-0 lead at halftime and ended the Cougars season.

“We had our worst week of practice all year long going into that game,” Adler said. “Not faulting our kids or anything, but I thought our kids were satisfied with where they were. It was just experience of not being that far. We were playing our 12th game of the year and they’d never done that before. Hopkinsville jumped out of the gate and hit us with a buzz saw and we didn’t really know how to respond to that. We’re going to use that as a learning experience and move forward.”

Logan County only loses nine seniors this year and returns a lot of familiar names. Sophomore Gary Hardy ran for 1,261 yards and nine touchdowns to become the first running back since Joseph Jefferson in 1998 to rush for 1,000 yards.

Sophomore Tyler Ezell returns at quarterback after throwing for 1,664 yards and 19 touchdowns while leading the team with 10 rushing TDs on 623 yards.

The Cougars will also have plenty of experience at receiver, offensive line and secondary in 2018.

“We’ll try to make another run at it,” Adler said. “Realistically, I think it’s OK to say we’re a year ahead of where I thought we would be. My thinking was we’d make this run next year instead of this year, but that just goes to show you how much these kids have worked since December of last year to get to this point.”

Byrd earns South Warren INTerception record

Moving Greg Byrd from receiver to safety is paying off, where his knack for catching the football is still a habit for South Warren.

Depth at the receiver position allowed the Spartans to move Byrd over to defense this season, and the senior was a force Friday with three interceptions in the Spartans’ 24-6 win over previously unbeaten Christian County.

South Warren (10-2) picked off Colonels (11-1) quarterback Kolbe Langhi four times Friday night – one from Cody Eblen and three well-timed picks from Byrd.

“It felt amazing to show that experience with my teammates and it feels good to know hard work paid off,” Byrd said.

Byrd now has nine interceptions this season since coach Brandon Smith moved him to the free safety position at the beginning of the year. The senior now owns the school record for career interceptions with 13 picks over the last two years.

As a wide receiver last year, Byrd caught eight passes for 99 yards. Smith said at the beginning of the season that he made the move because of Byrd’s knowledge and football I.Q. to help line defenders up and natural play-making ability.

Two of his interceptions Friday came in the end zone to kill off big drives by Christian County. His last pick came on the Colonels final drive.

“He did a great job,” Smith said. “We’ve challenged him two weeks in a row with the team’s best receiver and he took them on and he’s done a tremendous job since we’ve moved him. He’s taken it and rolled with it and we couldn’t be prouder of him.”

Second-round playoff top performers

• Glasgow QB/WR Dalvin Smith – 8 receptions, 140 yards, 4 TDs

• Glasgow QB Tanner Abernathy – 15-of-27 passing, 272 yards, 4 TDs

South Warren DB Greg Byrd – 3 interceptions

• South Warren QB Gavin Spurrier – 15-of-25 passing, 268 yards, TD; 2 rushing TDs

• Bowling Green RB Dazhon Blakey – 11 rushes, 102 yards, 3 TDs

• Bowling Green WR Ziyon Kenner – 3 rushes, 115 yards, 2 TDs; 5 receptions, 66 yards

• Bowling Green LB Justice Dingle – 15 tackles, INT

• Greenwood QB Jackson Adams – 194 rushing yards, 79 passing yards, 2 TDs

• Franklin-Simpson RB James Baker – 2 rushing TDs; blocked punt for TD