Cedar Creek dominated for four quarters Friday night as the Cougars defeated Delta Charter 57-0 for homecoming at Cougar Stadium.
Caden Middleton threw four touchdown passes, including a school record long 92-yarder to Ladd Thompson, and the Creek defense registered another dominating performance in posting their first shutout of the season.
Austin Webb, Lawson Lillo and Jed Worthey each registered interceptions while Seth Smith blocked a punt and Lane Thomas returned the opening kickoff of the third quarter for an 85-yard touchdown.
It was a complete effort by the Cougars (5-3) against the Storm (6-3). Creek is still chasing a playoff spot with one week remaining in the regular season.
“It’s a big win for us,” said head coach Matt Middleton. “We need some things to happen with some other teams in front of us in the power rankings. But I am proud of the kids. We get 16 points for the win so that will help us.
“I think we are playing really well right now. Tonight we had limited offensive plays with the running clock. People say this all the time, but it’s true. If I can run it 50 times, I will run it 50 times. If I can throw it 50 times, then that’s what we will do. Tonight they loaded the box against the run, and we just threw it and made plays through the air.”
Thomas got the Cougars on the board with a 34-yard TD reception from Middleton on the Cougars first possession of the game, capping a two-play, 44-yard drive.
After Webb recorded the first of three interceptions on the night by the Cougars defense, Middleton found Bryce Rushing for a 12-yard TD pass and then converted the two-point conversion for a 14-0 lead. It capped an 8-play, 54-yard scoring drive.
Worthey scored the first of his two touchdowns on the night on a 9-yard run with 1:48 to play in the first quarter. Davis Long’s extra point made it 21-0 in favor of the Cougars.
Smith came up big on the Cougars special teams unit on Delta Charter’s next possession, blocking a punt and giving Creek the ball on the 11-yard line. After an offside penalty moved the ball to the six yards line, Middleton found Rushing for a second time and another score. Rushing converted the two-point conversion again for a 29-0 lead.
History was made next.
On a third down and 10 play from the Cougars own 8-yard line, Caden Middleton found Ladd Thompson on a 92-yard touchdown pass. It is the longest pass play in Creek history and gave the Cougars a 36-0 lead.
“They were playing man coverage,” said Middleton. “And we threw a bang post into the boundary. Ladd won on inside leverage with no safety over the top.”
Lillo recorded an interception on the next Delta Charter possession and Worthey capitalized two plays later with a 36-yard TD run. Creek led 43-0 at halftime as Worthey intercepted a pass on the final play of the second quarter to end the first half.
Cedar Creek waisted little time in adding to its lead in the third quarter. Thomas took the opening kickoff and raced 85 yards to paydirt and a 50-0 lead. Thomas had a 70-yard TD reception later in the third quarter called back due to a penalty on the Cougars.
With a running clock shortening the final two quarters, Webb added the final score of the night on a 65-yard run with 10:49 to play in the game.
“The kids played well,” said Middleton. “We are 5-3 right now, and we will see how things shake out with some other games tonight. But I’m proud of our guys tonight.”
Creek’s defense held Delta Charter to just 121 yards of total offense in the game.
“We played great defensively,” said Middleton. “Delta Charter went to the air to try to get some positive plays because we stopped the run all night.”
Middleton completed 9-of-18 passes for 187 yards and four scores while Cedar Creek rushed the ball eight times for another 121 yards. Worthey recorded four carries for 54 yards and two scores while Webb added two carries for 69 yards and a score.
Thomas recorded four receptions for 59 yards while Thompson tallied two catches for 100 yards.
Creek will close out its regular season schedule next Friday against Tensas.
Photo: Darrell James (dgjames.photoshelter.com)
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