C-Side vs. St. Pete High

ST. PETERSBURG - No one really knew what to expect of the Countryside Cougars after a few lopsided wins against Boca Ciega and Gibbs. The St. Pete Green Devils knew that to be successful, they needed to make plays up front. The way the Cougar front seven had been performing in the previous two games, there wasn't much the home team could do. On this rainy Friday night at Stewart Field, Countryside showed why they are the cream of the crop in Pinellas County football.

The Cougars came out firing on all cylinders in the first half. L.D. Crow may have had the best game of his Cougar career, finding the end zone 3 times despite two interceptions. His first score came in the first when Ryan Messmore caught a 5 yard pass for pay dirt and an early 7-0 lead. Matt Mooney easily meandered his way across the goal line for a 10 yard score and on what may have been the best throw of the night, Crow zoomed the ball past the entire Devil defense into the hands of speedster Martavious Jones. Countryside's last first half possession ended on a high note when Josh Martinez notched a 35 yard field goal to send it to the locker rooms with a huge 24-0 lead.

Things seemed to simmer down just a bit as the second half got underway. After the Green Devils picked off a pass and brought it back to the Cougar 7, the home team was poised to get on the board. Once again, the stingy defense held and St. Pete kicker Nick Solomon had a chip shot field goal attempt: wide left. The Devils caught a break when the garnet and goal were flagged for roughing the kicker. On the very next play, Deontae Jones pounded his way into the end zone for a 5 yard TD and cutting the lead to 24-7. That would cap the scoring for the home team as the Cougars still had more up their sleeves.

Late in the third quarter, Dawrence Roberts, who was starting in place of the hobbling Maurice Threatts went down with an injury and the back-up running backs picked up the baggage. First, it was Jagger Esch, who maneuvered his way to a scoring play from the 15 and Countryside would lead 31-7, giving the Cougars their third straight game with at least 30 points. In the fourth quarter, Brandon Lockwood had no problem against a wore down defense for an easy 24 yard score to seal the deal at 38-7, giving CHS a whopping 106 points in just three games (35.3 ppg) and a perfect (3-0) record to begin the season. The Green Devils meanwhile, fall to (1-2) and will travel to face Gibbs next Friday.

The Cougars wrap up a three game road trip with their first Class 5A, District 9 game of the season when they square off against the rival Palm Harbor Hurricanes next Friday at PHU. The Canes have never beaten the Cougars since their inception in 1997, and first year coach Pete Just will try to put a blemish on Countryside's record. The Cougars will be back home on Thursday, September 21 to begin what should be a wild four game home stand vs. the Dixie Hollins Rebels. All games scheduled at 7:30 and are subject to change.