CSide vs. Seminole

SEMINOLE - Watching pre-game warm-ups from atop the press box at Seminole High School, it was odd to think that this would be the last game of the season and that for the first time in 6 years, the Countryside Cougars would not be making the playoffs. Usually the tenth and final regular season game is a tune-up for a first round playoff game, but this time it was just a tune-up for the off-season. With that in mind, the Cougars entered Friday night's contest against Seminole, the worst team record wise in the county, trying to finish off the Warhawks at (0-10). From the opening whistle, it was apparent the Cougars were going to do just that.

Offensive execution was nearly perfect for the Cougars who took the ball on the opening drive as Maurice Threatts scored his first of three touchdowns on a 9 yard run, set up on a key third down conversion near midfield. Jimbo Chmelik found Dan Spisak open for 22 yards and the running game did the rest to put the garnet and gold up 7-0. On the very next drive, the Cougars dug deep into the playbook for the well executed "rooster" play which baffled everyone in the stadium and allowed Brent Scannell to score easily on a 31 yard run to put the team up 14-0. Threatts went back to work and on the next possession, took it to the house untouched for 63 yards to end the first quarter 21-0.

Is there anything the team could've done for an encore in the second quarter? The next drive answered that question with panache and with a bit of history for #5. After the Warhawks punted and the ball was downed at the one yard line, Countryside needed some breathing room for what should be a long drive. Instead, Threatts went into the CHS record books taking a hand-off 99 yards, the longest run in the history of Cougar football, for a whopping 28-0 lead. Maurice would end the night with the second best single game rushing performance, only topped by Isaiah Gwyn's 285 yard game in 2003. Just before halftime, Ryan Eppes walked into the end zone from the 1 to send to to recess at 35-0. Not to be outdone, the hapless Warhawks would score to spoil the shutout bid on a 22 yard scamper from fullback DJ Helm, but Seminole would miss the 2-point conversion and settling for 6. Dawrence Roberts, who rushed for nearly 100 yards himself, ended the scoring in the third with a 32 yard touchdown to cap the scoring 42-6.

There was no scoring in the fourth quarter, thanks in part to a running clock. The Cougars picked up their seventh win and finish 2007 with a very decent (7-3) record, but third in Class 5A, District 9. The two teams in our district who advanced to post-season play, Dunedin and East Lake will host Gibbs and travel to Largo respectively next Friday night. I'd like to thank everyone who made this season possible and for the outpouring of support for Countryside football, cheerleading, the band, Cougar "U", and everyone that was associated with this wonderful program and school. A heartfelt thank you from the "Voice of the Cougars". See you in 2008!