Ravens' stay on top brief

Countryside rallies from three scores down to edge Alonso in a preseason matchup.

By BOB PUTNAM
Published August 24, 2007

CLEARWATER - It seemed like the perfect time for Countryside coach John Davis to call timeout, 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 that 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, Ryan Eppes threw a 41-yard pass to Jones for the go-ahead score.

[Last modified August 24, 2007, 00:26:51]