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Cougars slip past Pirates

COUNTRYSIDE 14, BOCA CIEGA 7: Isaiah Gwyn runs for two touchdowns.

By RODNEY PAGE, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times
published September 7, 2002

GULFPORT -- A new season brings a new attitude and after its first game Countryside is feeling pretty good about itself. The Cougars did not win much in 2001, but this season they have a new coach, John Davis, a jazzed up play book, and a season-opening win.

Countryside scored on its first drive against Boca Ciega, highlighted by a fake reverse- halfback pass, and capitalized on several Pirates' mistakes to win 14-7 Friday night.

"It wasn't pretty," Davis said. "We made enough mistakes to lose the game. But the defense stepped up big in the second half. I thought that was the key."

Davis, former Clearwater Central Catholic coach, put his stamp on the Cougars early. On Countryside's first play from scrimmage, quarterback T.J. Meyer handed off to receiver Dan Petillo, who faked a reverse handoff and hit Isaiah Gwyn for a 40-yard completion to the 3-yard line. Gwyn rushed in on the next play for a 7-0 lead.

"We've got more of those kinds of plays and we wanted to use them," Davis said. "But the (wet) weather didn't allow us to do that."

Boca Ciega came right back with a four-play drive, highlighted by an 81-yard pass from Jim Connors to Ralston Garvey to the Countryside 1. Darryl Wilson scored three plays later from 6 yards out to tie the game.

Things got sloppy until late in the third quarter, when Countryside scored what would be the winning touchdown. After a Boca Ciega fumble, Gwyn capped a 39-yard drive with a 13-yard run.

The Pirates attempted a 37-yard field goal in the fourth quarter but missed. And then with four minutes and 32 seconds left in the game and faced with a third-and-15 on its own 49, Pirates' coach Jean Gordon opted for a quick kick. The kick was blocked and the Cougars were safe.

"I'd do it again," Gordon said of the quick kick. "I've done it numerous times with success and I've never had one blocked."

The Pirates fumbled six times but lost only two. Countryside had three fumbles but lost only one.

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