Upset alert!
The 2014 Durant Cougars looked more like the 2012 squad in Friday night’s 30-20 upset over Sickles, which wasn’t as close as the score suggests.
Sickles (1-1; 0-0 district) did get on the scoreboard with the first play of the game, an 80-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Isaac Holder to Trey Fulwood. That was the only pass Holder would complete in the half, though, and star running back Ray Ray McCloud III was held to just 29 rushing yards in those two quarters.
The Cougars (1-1; 0-0 district) didn’t even get lucky – the offense clicked, as Crispian Atkins scored on a 35-yard run to tie and Erick Davis threw a 15-yard touchdown pass to Austin Resendez to take an early 14-7 lead.
The defense, though, absolutely punished Sickles through three quarters. Constant pressure on Holder forced several errant throws and sacks, and McCloud was often gang-tackled within seconds of getting a touch.
Things got interesting in the third quarter, after Davis’s 79-yard run put the Cougars ahead, 24-7. Sickles sustained a long drive and answered with a short R.J. Lark touchdown run, making it 24-14.
Sickles continued to drive into the fourth quarter, but was constantly forced to punt. Durant kicker Derek Wells nailed two of his three field goals in the quarter, giving the Cougars a 30-14 lead with 2:15 to play.
The Gryphons scored again, with 39 seconds to go, on a short touchdown pass from Holder to Steven Quieles, but the two-point conversion was no good. A failed onside kick attempt allowed Durant to run the clock out, sealing the program’s biggest win since the 2012 undefeated regular season.
In other area action, Plant City defeated Wharton, 20-7, and Strawberry Crest suffered a 27-22 loss to Spoto following a late score and a successful Spartans onside kick.