CLEARWATER - After a 42-10 drubbing of the
Tarpon Springs Spongers in the pre-season classic, the Countryside Cougars
felt this game should not give them many problems on their way to a seventh
straight win. All those thoughts were put on hold Friday night at Cougar
Stadium as the visiting Spongers stunned the Cougars with a 14-7 final.
After no scoring in the first, the Cougars
would score their only touchdown of the game after a lengthy drive. Dawrence
Roberts tallied from the 1 yard line and CHS took a 7-0 lead into halftime.
Once again, both defenses failed on kicking opportunities and a flurry of
penalties as no one scored in the third. Tarpon quarterback Danny Reyes
floated one to the corner of the end zone where a well covered Marquise Gamble
reeled it in from 23 yards out to make it 7-7.
With time winding down, the garnet and gold
mostly passed their way to the opposing 4 for a first and goal. L.D. Crow
decided to throw rather than pass. The Spongers
picked it off in the end zone and three plays later, Reyes once again found
Gamble, this time wide open, and in a stunning reversal of fortunes after a 40
yard touchdown launch, the Cougars found themselves trailing 14-7 with only 12
seconds left. The Spongers pick up the victory on the road, and spoil
Countryside's bid for a perfect season (6-1).
Next Friday is the final home game of the
regular season, a game between district rivals the Cougars vs. the Dunedin
Falcons. A win for C-side and it would put them in the driver's seat to
possibly host a first round playoff game on November 10. The only other
district game to go is October 27 at East Lake, a week after the bye. Next
week's game will be broadcast on Brighthouse Catch 47 and can be seen Saturday
at 9 p.m.
