AHOY! COUGARS LOOT PIRATES FOR THIRD
STRAIGHT WIN!!
By Alfredo Muente
GULFPORT - Stats don't always tell the tale when it
comes to high school football, and on this breezy Friday evening at Beauchamp
Memorial Stadium, that would definitely hold true. Despite being out-gained by
a margin of 381-168 yards, the Countryside Cougars once again came together as
a team to outlast the vertically superior Boca Ciega Pirates 27-20 for their
third consecutive victory, their fifth overall. Countryside never trailed in
this game, garnering just 17 passing yards the entire 48 minutes. The Cougars
methodically moved the ball with precision in the first quarter, and on the
opening drive, Brent Scannell, MVP caliber player midway through the season,
scored to get on the board first on an end around good for 40 yards and a
touchdown. On Taylor Hand's ensuing kick-off, the Pirates coughed up some
booty, as the return was muffed and recovered by the kicking team at the
opposing 14. Jimbo Chmelik found Martavious Jones in the corner of the end
zone for a 5 yard score to put C'Side ahead by a baker's dozen. The score
would remain like that after William Griswold missed only his first extra
point of the entire 2007 campaign. After the two quick strikes, the Pirates
came charging in.
Bogie, who entered the game with just one loss, were
poised to pick up their fifth in comeback fashion. Quarterback Orhian Johnson
picked on the secondary all night, and was successful for the most part. The
home team got on the board on a blazing pass for 35 yards right at Sherrod
Clinton, breaking coverage and finding the end zone to cut the lead to 13-7.
Both squads tallied through the air once each in the second to keep it a 6
point game at halftime. First, it was Jones for the Cougars scoring his second
TD from Chmelik good for 12 yards; Mundrae Francis crossed the goal line for
the Pirates on Johnson's 16 yard bomb to send it to the locker rooms at 20-14.
It was much of the same in the third, with a see-saw battle going on as Boca
Ciega refused to go away. Maurice Threatts paved the way for a 30 yard
touchdown, giving the Cougars a 27-14 cushion. Orhian Johnson would find
Clinton for his third TD pass, this time scoring on a long route from 68 yards
out.
This would cap the scoring for the game, as there
would be no scoring in the final frame, despite Bogie's efforts to try and tie
the contest in the final two minutes. They would have a few chances, as the
Countryside defensive backs were called for a couple of back-to-back pass
interference calls which put the opposing offense in good position to score.
Back-up QB Darrian Skinner would be indefinitely intercepted by Rashard Young
as the Pirate ship was sunk for good to give Countryside (5-2) a boost going
into the bye week next Friday. Play resumes for the garnet and gold on Oct. 26
at Clearwater for a district game, followed by senior night on Nov. 2 to wrap
up Class 5A, District 9 action vs. East Lake. Coach John Davis was all smiles
after the game, as the boys in white trotted off the field looking like
champions, and united in adversity.
