A host of Linton-Stockton defenders including Keith Cunningham (left), Stefan Sparks (right), Kaleb Bridges (34), Evan Magni (3), Derrick Barker (58) and Jacob Tibbett help to bring down North Daviess runner Ryan Webster in a Southwest Seven Conference football game at Elnora Friday night. (By B.J. Hargis/Greene County Daily World). [Order this photo]

But after the host Cougars closed to within a touchdown midway in the fourth quarter, the Class A No. 4-ranked Miners drove 70 yards in eight plays, culminating with a 7-yard touchdown run by Keith Cunningham with just under three minutes remaining.

Cunningham then hit Jordan Tharp with the two-point conversion, giving the defending Class A Sectional 40 and Southwest Seven Conference champions a 22-7 conference win.

The Miners improved to 6-0, 3-0 in the Southwest Seven. It was the 19th victory in a row in the regular season and 20th straight since the conference began play in 2005.

"We are still undefeated," said Linton-Stockton coach Steve Weber. "This was not our best performance by a long shot. Give North Daviess some credit. This was a tough, physical football game like we expected.

"But we came out like a championship team and drove the ball down the field when we needed it. We are capable of playing like that on every play. That is the frustrating part."

North Daviess, who slipped to 4-2, 3-1 in the conference, put together a 14-play drive that covered 63 yards and consumed two seconds less than seven minutes.

Quarterback Drew Stuffle scored on a 1-yard keeper and Cliff Bowers booted the extra point to cut the Miner cushion to 14-7 with 6:43 to play.

Other than two plays, Ryan Webster toted the load for the Cougars on the drive and throughout the contest. He carried the ball 33 times of 153 yards.

But other than Webster, the rest of the offense produced 43 yards, including 44 passing by Stuffle.

"We know we can run the football," said North Daviess coach Scotty Helms. "That was our game plan.

"We finally put a scoring drive together late. Although we moved the ball effectively between the 20s, we couldn't get it in the end zone. We were moving the ball well in the second quarter, but we had a turnover. That was one of those drives that came back to haunt us in a close game like this."

Stuffle threw two interceptions, both in the second quarter. Cunningham made the first one, which stopped that long drive at the Miner 18. Cameron Coleman had the other one.

The Cougars had the ball over 30 minutes, compared to just 17 for the Miners.

"Our defense was on the field for a long time," said Weber. "They have some size up front and they moved the ball well on the ground at times.

"But we came up with enough plays when we need them."

Helms said that the game was ultimately decided in the first quarter.

Cunningham connected with Evan Magni on a crossing route. Magni got by Jess Tribby about 20 yards down field and was on his way to a 73-yard touchdown run and catch on the third play from scrimmage.

It was his ninth touchdown of the year and the 13th scoring pass by Cunningham, who was 7 of 15 for 145 yards and the one TD.

Two possessions later, the Miners capitalized on a penalty by North Daviess. Cougar senior Thomas Hughes was called for a roughing the kicker penalty after running into Tosti on fourth-and-nine.

On the very next play, Tosti broke up the middle for a 53-yard TD scamper. It was his sixth rushing score and ninth overall touchdown this year.

Tosti finished with 80 yards on the ground. The Miners had a season low 117 yards on 21 attempts.

Cunningham hit Jordan Tharp with the two-point conversion pass play as the Miners led 14-0 at the 3:13 mark of the opening quarter.

"You had to say that two plays were the difference in the game," said Helms. "But we knew about Linton's quickness and the ability to come up with the big, quick strike.

"It made it tough on us getting down 14 points that early. A big pass and a big run really put us in a hole that we were not quite able to dig out of. This is a good Linton football game."

Kaleb Bridges recovered a fumble for the Miner defense, which came up short of extending its shutout streak to four consecutive games, which was last done by the Miners in both 1981 and 1982.

Linton-Stockton will host North Knox at 7 p.m. on Friday in another battle among two teams at the top the conference standings.

MINERS 22, COUGARS 7

Linton-Stockton 14 0 0 8 -- 22

First Quarter

L -- Evan Magni 74 pass Keith Cunningham (kick failed), 10:54.

L -- Mickey Tosti 53 run (Cameron Coleman pass from Cunningham), 3:13.

Fourth Quarter

ND -- Drew Stuffle 1 run (Cliff Bowers kick), 6:43.

L -- Cunningham 7 run (Jordan Tharp pass from Cunningham), 2:53.

L-S ND

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS

RUSHING--Linton-Stockton, Tosti 11-80, Cameron Coleman 2-16, Kaleb Bridges 1-15, Cunningham 8-6. North Daviess, Ryan Webster 33-153, Dalton Sellers 5-4, Jano Davis 2-2, Clayton Shake 1-1, Gene Vosters 1-1, Jess Tribby 1-0, Drew Stuffle 1-(minus 10).

PASSING--Linton-Stockton, Cunningham 7-15-0-145. North Daviess, D. Stuffle 8-16-2-44

RECEIVING--Linton-Stockton, Magni 2-94, Coleman 1-39, Tharp 2-9, Tosti 1-1, Levi Baysinger 1-0. North Daviess, Davis 4-31, Tribby 2-15, Cory Stuffle 1-7, Webster 1-(minus 9).