CLEARWATER - After an embarrassing loss last
week to the hands of the Gibbs Gladiators, the Countryside Cougars were
looking to regain composure to wrap up a three game home stand before
beginning district play next week. Although it wasn't altogether pretty, the
Cougars delivered a victory for win #2 on Friday night against the St.
Petersburg Green Devils in front of a packed house. Resiliency has been a key
in the early part of the season, as the garnet and gold have had to come from
behind in every game, including the pre-season jamboree. The Cougars faced the
same predicament vs. St. Pete as the team saw the visitors draw first blood
yet again.
After a scoreless first quarter, St. Pete
speedster Deontae Jones breezed through the defense for a 7 yard score and a
7-0 lead. As was the case two weeks ago against Pinellas Park, CHS came back
to shut down the opposition and eventually seal the deal. In a blink of an
eye, Countryside would tally twice in the waning moments of the first half as
the team went into the locker rooms with a 14-7 edge. First, Richard Shockley
made an amazing 19 yard catch in the corner of the end zone and on the ensuing
defensive drive, Ed Castigliuolo recovered a fumble in the red zone to put the
Cougars in business. QB Ryan Eppes tossed a screen to Brandon Lockwood, who
hit a wide open Martavious Jones from 5 yards out to take a lead they wouldn't
relinquish.
It was all Countryside in the second
half, but just barely. The Cougars would earn 2 points on a safety when the
Green Devils muffed a snap over the head of punter Andy Rosetti and out of the
end zone to increase the lead to 16-7. The team's leading rusher, Dawrence
Roberts, scampered into the promised land from the 2 to cap the scoring at
23-7. Now the Countryside Cougars (2-1) will be on the road for the first time
in '07 when they face defending district champ Dunedin next Friday night. The
Cougars will try to get revenge on the Falcons after last year's defeat,
following back-to-back home games vs. Tarpon Springs and Palm Harbor U. Game
time for the games are 7:30.
