C-Side vs. Bogie

CLEARWATER - For the third week in a row, a low scoring affair took place, with only one touchdown the entire first half as the Countryside Cougars looked to turn things around on homecoming night vs. the Boca Ciega Pirates of Gulfport. The Bucs opening drive was kept alive after a fumble recovery in the red zone, but could not punch it in as the Cougar defense was stingy and maneuvered an excellent goal line stance. Off a turnover on downs, CHS promptly moved the ball 94 yards, having possession for over half the quarter and it paid off on a Dawrence Roberts 4 yard score, giving the garnet and gold a 7-0 edge. Both teams were unable to find the end zone again in the half, with a slim lead at halftime as the squads headed to the locker room.

After defensive specialist Blake Johnson was crowned homecoming king, the Cougars proceeded to rack up more points. The team would take a 14-0 lead on an eerie play. Quarterback Jimbo Chmelik was blitzed at the 45 yard line and his improvisational skills took flight as he dumped it off over the oncoming Pirates and Alton Taylor caught the floater and turned on the jets as he scampered for a 55 yard TD. Midway through the fourth, sophomore Terry Johnson bolted his way past an amalgam of defenders and scored on a 4 yard run to make it 21-0 and well on the way to the fourth win of the season. The only blemish came with just over two minutes remaining when Latavien Washington ran it in from 19 yards out, spoiling a shutout capping the score at 21-6, since Bogie missed the two-point attempt. It would have been the first goose egg for the Cougars since the 2006 regular season finale when they demolished Lakewood 41-0.

Countryside now enters the bye week on October 24 with a (4-3) record, (1-1) in the district, with a chance to remedy that on Halloween night as the Clearwater Tornadoes come into town with a huge playoff berth on the line for the Cougars. The remaining schedule going into November include a road game to East Lake and on the 14th, senior night against Seminole. Come out and support your team for the final three contests, as Countryside's looks to reclaim the district crown. All games set for 7:30.