Cougars keep their cool, escape deficit

Countryside rallies from 20 points down to squeak by the Ravens.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published August 24, 2007

CLEARWATER - It seemed like the perfect time for Countryside coach John Davis to call time out, scream, stomp his feet and throw his hands in the air.

The Cougars trailed 20-0 in the first quarter Thursday against Alonso. Yet Davis was undisturbed. He simply kept the faith, and his team practiced everything he had preached. They held onto the ball, played superb defense and Davis pushed every button but the one marked panic.

The result was a 21-20 Countryside victory.

"We have a young, inexperienced team," Davis said. "We made some mistakes, but I'm proud of the way we finished."

Turnovers played a big role in the deficit; Countryside committed three.

The first was a fumble Jamal Cook picked up and ran 54 yards for a touchdown to give the Ravens the lead. Two more turnovers led to touchdown runs of 22 and 24 yards by Jessie Anaya.

Then the Cougars came back. It started on a 96-yard fumble return by Richard Shockley for a score.

After that, Countryside's quarterbacks went to work. Ryan Eppes hit Martavious Jones on a 19-yard touchdown to make it 20-14 at the half.

In the third quarter, Ryan Eppes threw a 41-yard pass to Jones for the go-ahead score.

"When it was 20-0, we could have easily been blown out," Davis said. "It showed a lot of character to hang in there."

The Cougars' JV tacked on a score in the fourth quarter.

[Last modified August 24, 2007, 00:36:21]