Sports

Preps

Mistakes disrupt Durant's late rallies

The Cougars fall 22-19 to Sarasota.

By KEITH NIEBUHR
Published October 9, 2007

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DURANT - In the aftermath of Durant's 22-19 loss to Sarasota on Monday night, it would be easy for the Cougars to pin things on the badly timed fumble, the overthrown pass or the blown defensive assignment.

The reality: Durant didn't lose it as much as Casey Kelly and Robin Rothenbach won it.

In a game that started Friday but was delayed after two quarters by inclement weather, Kelly, a quarterback, and Rothenbach, his primary target, connected for touchdowns of 66 and 36 yards as Sarasota (3-3, 1-0) rallied from a 13-7 halftime deficit.

Kelly finished with 240 passing yards. Rothenbach had 10 catches for 209 yards.

"I'm glad (the game was delayed)," Rothenbach said. "They were handing it to us (Friday)."

Durant (2-4, 0-1) wasn't without its chances.

Ahead 19-14 early in the final quarter, the Cougars drove to the Sarasota 4 before losing a fumble. Nine plays later, the Sailors went ahead on Rothenbach's second touchdown.

Still, Durant wasn't done.

After forcing a Sarasota fumble, the Cougars began at their own 14 with 2:12 left. On the fourth play, a 30-yard pass from Jeremy Fussell to Royce Rose got Durant into Sarasota territory. Three plays later, Fussell was intercepted at the 15.

Of Durant's four losses, three have been by a touchdown or less.

"It's very frustrating," Rose said. "We do so many things right, but then something happens. We've been so close. It's happened to us so many times."

 

[Last modified October 9, 2007, 00:53:25]