by Malcolm Butler
On a night where Loyola Prep simply had too much firepower in a 48-14 win over Cedar Creek, Cougars senior James Myers had quite a night for himself.
Myers recorded two interceptions, recovered a fumble, scored a rushing TD and added a two-point conversion on a night that saw the Cougars offense tally its first two scores of the season.
“James is doing James things,” said head coach William Parkerson. “I know we are 0-3 but he is having a great start to his senior year. Two interceptions tonight. Great ball carrier. I would take a team full of James Myers.
“He will do whatever he is asked of to help the team. He is a great leader and he is having a great senior season. Hopefully he can continue that.”
After intercepting a pass on Loyola’s second possession of the night to stop Flyers drive inside Cougar territory, Myers stepped in front of another out route with just over 8 minutes to play in the second quarter and returned it down to the Loyola Prep 1-yard line.
“We just stressed to the DBs just to read the quarterbacks shoulders and to let his shoulders take you to where you need to go,” said Parkerson. “We are not reading receivers. James is doing a great job of being coachable and making some plays. It something we can show the other guys that if you do what you are coached to do, you will end up in the right spot.”
One play later, Mason Wooden crossed the goal line for the score — the first by the Cougars offense this year.
Trailing 48-6 with 9 minutes to play in the fourth quarter and a running clock, the Cougars drove 80 yards on 15 plays and scored on a 6-yard TD run by Myers with just 16 seconds to play. Wooden then hit Myers in the end zone for the two-point conversion as the final horn sounded.
However, Parkerson thought the drive could give his team a lift moving forward.
“My challenge to them was to win the fourth quarter when it was stacked behind us,” said Parkerson. “That was my challenge at start of fourth quarter. Let’s win the quarter and get a little momentum. To punch that in late and get the two-point conversion was nice. We have to find some victories where we can.”
During that final scoring drive, sophomore Wyatt Gremillion — seeing action in his first game of the year due to injury — carried the ball seven times as the Cougars ran the ball on 14 of the 15 plays.
Gremillion led the Cougars on the ground with 17 carries for 61 yards.
“Wyatt gave us a spark,” said Parkerson. “He runs physically. He sees the blocking schemes and does a good job with it. Hopefully, he will keep getting healthier and healthier and healthier and we can see the real Wyatt soon.”
Cason Floyd completed 5 of 8 passes for 53 yard and two interceptions, but Parkerson felt the freshman signal caller continued to show signs of progress.
“My favorite play of tonight was when we went play action and he stood in there and took a big shot and completed a pass to James,” said Parkerson. “He is growing up and he is showing some toughness for a young kid. He is getting better. I think he will have a break out game soon.”
Loyola Prep (2-1) rode the right arm of sophomore quarterback Bryce Restovich who completed 16 of 29 passes for 185 yards and three TDs, including a pair of scoring tosses to Ben Brewer and one to Colby Hamilton. Restovich also added a 16-yard TD run late in the first quarter.
Mason Drake was the bulk of the Flyers rushing attack, going for over 100 yards and three TD runs (5, 5, 1).
“We were still a little sloppy,” said Loyola Prep head coach John Sella. “We can’t turn the ball over. One of our goals is no turnovers, no sacks and no negative plays. And then we turn it over a bunch.
“We talked all week about no more penalties and no more negative plays, but then we go out and do it again and again. Something has to get fixed and I think it will.”
Creek will travel to Glenbrook next Friday night.
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