CSide vs. Pinellas Park

CLEARWATER - The weather on the last day of August could not have been any worse. After a strikingly hot and humid afternoon, the skies opened up throughout the night as intermittent showed sprinkled hard all throughout the evening as the Countryside Cougars prepared to take on the Pinellas Park Patriots. Just like in the pre-season jamboree vs. Alonso, the Cougars sputtered their way out onto the field and looked sloppy during the first quarter. In the midst of a muddy and slippery surface, the Cougars turned the ball over twice and wasted the chance to get on the board first. Early in the second, Pinellas Park took advantage of a fumble recovery and found the end zone first when on 3rd and goal, Oraian Bentley scored from the one to give P-Park a 7-0 lead. Not to be outdone, CHS kicked it up a few notches and the gave would sail the other way for the remainder of the contest.

Like thunder and lightning, the Cougars answered quickly. On the ensuing drive, Countryside would score its first points of the season on a 6 yard TD run by Richard Shockley, who set up the score by running for a 70 yard trot earlier in the drive. William Griswold's point after tied it at 7-7. After a three and out by the Patriots, Cougars' special team would shine when Chris Ramsey and Brent Scannell blocked a punt and Ed Castigliuolo took it 2 yards for the team's first lead, 14-7. Shockley would go on to tally two more touchdowns in the second quarter: a 4 yard plunge and on the last drive before halftime, a 27 yard reception on a bullet from Jimbo Chmelik which gave the garnet and gold a commanding 28-7 advantage.

Special teams would continue to be the name of the game as the third quarter got underway. Chris Bostick found a present in the end zone after a Patriot fumble and put this game away as the Cougars now led by 4 scores. Later in the quarter, QB Ryan Eppes showed off his blazing speed as he took an option to the outside all the way to the promised land for a 45 yard score to make it 42-7. The scoring would end after a Pinellas Park punt was returned 70 yards for a score by Martavious Jones which gave Countryside its first win of 2007, capping the final score at 49-7. Due to a running clock in the final frame, there would be no scoring but this one was over early. Now, Countryside (1-0) will square off against the Gibbs Gladiators (1-0) at Cougar Field next Friday night. Game time is 7:30 rain or shine.