by Tim Smith
The thing Cedar Creek coach Jacob Angevine most wanted to see from his young Cougar team in the season opener was a fast start.
“We tend to just stick our toe in the water, but not tonight,” Angevine said.
The Cougars established their dominance from the start and rolled to a 55-14 win over the Gators on their rain-soaked home turf.
Junior Micah Taylor took the opening kickoff at the 19-yard line and slashed his way past midfield to the Gators’ 48.
As the Cougars lined up on offense, sophomore running back Payton Harris wasted no time making his presence known in Delhi on a Friday night. Taking the handoff from quarterback Brett Bell on an option play, Harris fooled the Delhi Charter defense and even Angevine.
“I thought Brett gave the ball up the middle on a dive, and then I saw Payton going down the sideline,” Angevine said.
Harris took the first play from scrimmage to the end zone, a 48-yard touchdown run to open the game and the season. Campbell Woodard split the uprights on the extra point to give the Cougars the early lead.
The player Angevine calls “Lightning in a Bottle” would strike several more times under the clouds and rain that stormed through Delhi on this September night.
Harris rolled up 214 yards rushing and five touchdowns.
“It was pretty impressive,” Angevine said. “And that was all in the first half.”
After the Cougar defense held the Gators, a short punt left the Cougars with great field position at the Gators’ 32-yard line.
Three plays later, Harris exploded for a 20-yard touchdown, and with Woodard’s extra point, the Cougars led 14-0 with more than seven minutes left in the first quarter.
Cedar Creek was not able to capitalize on an interception by Taylor and was forced to punt. A Gators fumble was recovered by senior Hayden Durrett at the Delhi Charter 31, but on the next play, Harris fumbled and the Gators took possession at the 27.
With the weather playing a starring role, the Cougars forced yet another fumble on the following play, recovered by senior Kaden Williams at the 22.
The Cougars held on to the ball long enough to earn a first-and-goal at the 1, but Bell lost the ball and the Gators recovered at the 4.
Cedar Creek forced another punt, and with 11 minutes left in the second quarter, Harris punched in touchdown No. 3 from 4 yards out to give the Cougars a 21-0 lead.
The Gators answered with a 52-yard touchdown pass with 10:21 left in the first half but couldn’t add the extra point.
The Cougars took possession after the kickoff at their own 40-yard line and kept the ball on the ground, grinding out a drive with runs by Liam Durrett and Harris, who broke free for gains of 14 and 21 yards.
Harris capped the drive with an 8-yard run for his fourth touchdown of the night.
After holding the Gators on fourth-and-11, the Cougars took over on downs. “Lightning” Harris ripped off a 31-yard gain before adding a 14-yard touchdown run for score No. 5, giving Cedar Creek a 35-6 halftime lead.
Cedar Creek kicked off to Delhi Charter to start the second half, and the stingy Cougar defense allowed only 6 yards before the Gators punted from their own 26.
Bell tucked the ball into the hands of fullback Liam Durrett, who squirted through the Gators’ defense and outran everyone for a 47-yard touchdown. Woodard added the extra point to make it 42-6.
The Gators scored on a 53-yard pass with just under four minutes to play in the third quarter.
Sophomore Noah Smith took snaps at quarterback in the fourth quarter, with Case Phillips and Cooper Greer taking over the running back duties. Phillips scored on a 3-yard run and freshman Kingston Culpepper showed his speed with a blistering 47-yard touchdown run to cap the Cougars’ scoring.
“We had two other guys with big-time rushing yards, Case Phillips and Cooper Greer, and I know Payton (Harris) is thanking his offensive line big time. Those guys paved the way,” Angevine said. “Liam (Durrett) was a guy last year we were trying to get fullback reps, but he ended up getting hurt. For him to come back out and get that big-time run, it is great to see.”
Angevine also praised his defense.
“It was awesome. We got 11 guys with one goal, 11 hats flying to the ball,” Angevine said. “Coach Ware had them ready to play.”
Angevine was happy with the play of the Cougars, even though the wet conditions limited the passing game.
“Brett (Bell) is a seasoned leader,” Angevine said. “Last week he used his feet. This week he let his running backs take the ball.”
Angevine also called out the play of Smith, both on defense and after taking the helm at quarterback in the fourth quarter.
“On the pitch to Kingston (Culpepper), when he made his move to the left, there was nothing there, so he turned all the way back and went right,” Angevine said. “If you look at the tape, you will see the guy doing the lead blocking was Noah.”
Angevine also praised Cohen Pottharst for contributing despite the conditions limiting Cedar Creek’s passing attack.
“I also will give a big shoutout to Cohen Pottharst,” Angevine said. “We weren’t able to really throw the ball because of the rain, and he is one of our main receivers. Without his downfield blocking tonight, we may not get those big runs.”
The Cougars (1-0) will host St. Frederick next Friday at Cedar Creek.
