CSide vs. Tarpon Springs

CLEARWATER - The halfway point of the 2007 season is upon us, and although the Countryside Cougars had lost two coming into Friday night's match-up vs. the Tarpon Springs Spongers, there was a sense of victory in the air as the undefeated Spongers came to town. In the first four game of the season, Countryside had allowed the opposition to score first. Twice, the team bounced back to win (Pinellas Park & St. Pete) but the other two times the team could not recoup (Gibbs & Dunedin). Finally, the Cougars were able to put together a solid offensive drive and draw first blood via the ground.

The garnet and gold would get right to work on their opening possession. Maurice Threatts would get things started with a run of 76 yards down the near side and would subsequently score on a 10 yard run to give the Cougars a 7-0 edge. On the ensuing drive, CHS would diligently move the ball with a good mix of pass and run, culminating on a Martavious Jones 5 yard touchdown grab in the corner of the end zone for a 14-0 first quarter lead. The Spongers would respond on their next turn as fullback Donnel Ingram dived into the end zone from the 3 to cut the lead to just 14-7. What looked like Countryside's third TD was called back right before halftime. After Ryan Eppes threw a screen pass to Jayson Shannon, who fired one wide open to Jones was called back due to an illegal forward pass. Despite the ruling, the Cougars would score first in the second half to put the game away.

The only scoring in the third quarter was a Dawrence Roberts 4 yard plunge to make it 21-7. Tarpon Springs would not go away so easily as quarterback Danny Reyes sneaked in a touchdown from the 2 to cut it to 21-14. With time becoming a factor, Tarpon would get it back trying to tie it, but would fumble and the turnover led to no points for the remainder of the contest, as the Cougars (3-2) would defeat the Spongers (3-1) to set up a huge homecoming game next Friday night vs. district rival Palm Harbor Hurricanes. CHS is (0-1) in district play, so Oct. 5 will be a decisive factor as to whether the team's aspirations for the post-season will remain alive. Countryside has never lost a regular season game to the Canes (6-0) in the history of the two schools. Game time is 7:30; get there early for pre-game festivities and be there in support for our team.