by Malcolm Butler
Too many self-inflicted wounds caught up to Cedar Creek Friday night as the Cougars fell 36-16 at Glenbrook.
The Cougars (0-4) used a fumble return for a TD and a special teams safety to build a 10-0 first quarter lead, but turnovers and some special teams mistakes led to 30 unanswered points by the Apache (2-1).
Creek’s offense appeared to have struck early in the first quarter when senior James Myers took a handoff and raced 71 yards for a touchdown. However, a penalty was assessed to the Cougars sideline when a player came onto the field and made contact with one of the referees on the play, negating the scoring run.
After Cedar Creek punted the football away pinning the Apache deep in their own territory, the Cougars defense held, forcing a punt. However, the snap was high and the ball went through the back of the endzone, giving Creek an early 2-0 lead.
On Glenbrook’s next possession, the Cougars forced a fumble and eighth grader Noah Smith returned it 38 yards for the score. The two-point conversion was successful and the Cougars led 10-0 with 1:56 to play in the opening stanza.
Glenbrook got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter on an 11-yard TD pass, closing the deficit to 10-6.
Turnovers on the Cougars next two offensive possessions deep in Creek territory set up a 5-yard TD run and a 9-yard TD pass as the Apache took an 18-10 lead into the halftime locker room.
A special teams mistake on a punt by the Cougars early in the third quarter once again set up Glenbrook inside the Cougars redzone. Three plays later, the Apache capitalized on a 1-yard run and pushed the advantage to 24-10.
The Cougars mounted a sustained offensive drive on its following possession but a holding call and a false start pushed them behind the markers as Creek eventually turned the ball over on downs.
Glenbrook then mounted a drive and capped it with a 9-yard TD run with 3:16 to play in the game, making it 30-10.
On the ensuing kickoff, Myers returned the kick 70 yards to paydirt for his second TD of the night, the first that stood on the scoreboard.
Glenbrook added a 40-yard TD run in the final minutes to cap the scoring.
Wyatt Gremillion led the Cougars with 45 yards on the ground while Hayden Durrett added 43 yards and Cason Floyd chipped in with 29. Floyd completed 5-of-14 passes for 53 yards, including two for 23 yards to Noah Martin.
Bryce Martin and Mason Wooden led the Cougars with 10 tackles each while Myers, Blake Robinson and Trigger Woodard all added seven stops. Durrett added on interception on the night.
The Cougars play at Delta Charter next Friday.
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