CLEARWATER - The crowds on both sides of Cougar
Field began to take their seats earlier than usual on Friday in anticipation
for what was sure to be an evenly played ballgame between the Boca Ciega
Pirates and the Countryside Cougars as both squads kicked off their respective
seasons. It didn't take long for everyone in attendance to realize this one
would go down to the wire.
The visiting Pirates would strike first thanks
in part to a lucky bounce. One play after a deflected pass found the hands of
Josh Bellamy, quarterback Orhian Johnson threw a 46 yard strike into the end
zone for a 7-0 lead. The Cougars were resilient all night long, and they
wasted no time in tying the score at 7 after driving downfield and punctuating
it with an 8 yard flair from L.D. Crow to Matt Mooney.
Boca Ciega had great field position throughout
the game, thanks in part to Cougar turnovers on special teams and on failed
down conversions. After a 30 yard field goal gave the Pirates the lead at
10-7, the garnet and gold went to work and took the lead for the first time
late in the half on Dawrence Roberts' 7 yard score. What happened next was a
thing of beauty. On the ensuing Pirate drive, Johnson misread the defense and
in a bit of panic, fired the ball right into the arms of a diving Brent
Scanell. Josh Martinez would easily nail a 32 yarder through the uprights and
up the lead to 17-10 at recess.
One thing that wasn't lacking from the Cougars
was the fine job holding the runners in check for most of the game. Speed
kills, and Countryside found out the hard way when lightning quick Josh
Bellamy blew past the defense for a mammoth 84 yard touchdown to tie things up
at 17 a piece. Both teams seemed to settle in after that, and not much
happened; until the deciding fourth quarter.
After piecing together a fine drive that
plagued the Cougars with short first down conversions, Roberts again found pay
dirt in the way of a 4 yard scamper that put the home team on top for good,
24-17. Bogie lost the ball on their next drive, and the special teams
capitalized as Martinez tallied his second field goal from 19 yards out to
make it 27-17. With time lacking, Countryside had one last chance and after a
47 yarder to cap the scoring at 30-17, the fans at CHS began to celebrate the
team's first victory of the season.
The Cougars now begin a rough stretch of three
consecutive road games, beginning with a tilt against the Gibbs Gladiators in
south county, followed by another lengthy trip to St. Pete to take on the
Green Devils. The road trip wraps up with the first district game of the
season at Palm Harbor on September 15 before the next home game on Thursday,
September 21 vs. the Dixie Rebels. Game time for all games is 7:30.
