by Tim Smith
The Cedar Creek Cougars are now 5-0 and may move up in the Division IV Select rankings after defeating Class 3A North Webster on its home turf, 22-21.
After Payton Harris dodged and weaved his way 4 yards into the end zone with 3:26 left in the game to bring the Cougars within one, coach Jacob Angevine made the decision to go for two and potentially take the lead for the first time all night. The offensive set looked different to the North Webster Knights coach, and he opted to use his last timeout.
The set may have been special, but Bell handed it off to the one who has been the workhorse all year, and Payton Harris bulled his way into the end zone, securing the 2-point conversion.
“I had told Coach Ginn (offensive coordinator) with about 7 minutes left, when we punch this in, I want to go for two. He said OK,” said Angevine. “I also told Coach Ware (defensive coordinator) that if we didn’t make it, he would need to get the ball back in a hurry.”
With more than 3 minutes left, Angevine once again chose to gamble on the win. Campbell Woodard attempted an onside kick, but the Knights fell on the ball at midfield.
The game would now depend on the Cougar defense, which has been tough and stingy all year. The Knights had scored three touchdowns, all on big plays: an 82-yard run in the first quarter, a 30-yard pass in the second and, finally, a 71-yard TD pass with 10 minutes left in the final quarter. The threat of a big strike was all too real.
The Cougars, just like last week, found themselves down by two touchdowns rather quickly. And once again, the Cougars climbed out of that hole in the second half.
“We’ve got to work harder to figure out a way to start off with the kind of intensity we find in the second half,” mused Angevine.
Sophomore Case Phillips began to make play after play, carrying the ball from the fullback position and also making big stops on defense. After a quick three-and-out by the Cougar defense to start the third quarter, the Cougars began to show an offensive spark that was missing in the first half.
“We found ourselves another great fullback tonight,” said Angevine as he lauded the play of Phillips, who finished with a career-high 96 yards on 14 carries. “I just can’t say enough about how he played tonight.”
Phillips ripped off runs of 13, 12 and 42 yards before taking it in the final 3 yards to put Cedar Creek on the scoreboard. Campbell Woodard would make the first of his two PATs.
Ransom Lewis would end the Knights’ next series with an interception, and the Cougars were back on offense at their own 41. Cedar Creek would grind out a long drive, running right down the throat of a tiring Knights defense. Liam Durrett and Phillips pounded their way to one first down after another, with Durrett breaking free for 15 on the Cougars’ longest run. After being stuffed twice inside the 5, Bell called his own number and slipped around the end for a 2-yard TD. Woodard’s PAT would tie it at 14.
The Knights answered on the next possession, once again with a big play, airing it out for a 71-yard TD pass, and the Cougars were trailing again.
Taking possession at the Cougar 37, Cedar Creek began its drive to answer the Knights’ TD. Quarterback Bell carried for 12 yards, and the fullback tandem of Durrett and Phillips punched their way to keep moving the chains. When tailback Harris, who had been pretty much corralled by the Knights, broke free for 17 yards, Cedar Creek was once again knocking on the door. Phillips muscled his way down to the 4, and Harris was called on again and punched it in for the touchdown.
Harris rushed 14 times for 56 yards and one TD and and the all-important 2-point conversion.
With 3 minutes left and no timeouts remaining, the Cougar defense came up big. On fourth-and-6, Trigger Woodard sacked the Knights’ quarterback for a 9-yard loss, ending the hope for a late miracle.
Woodard led all tacklers with eight. Hayden Durrett had six tackles, while Noah Smith and Phillips each had five.
The Cedar Creek defense, with its unrelenting effort, strength, talent and great coaching, is the biggest reason the Cougars are 5-0, taking nothing away from the outstanding offensive play, which continues to find ways to score.
Except for the big plays North Webster was able to hit, the Knights pretty much got nothing on offense. The Knights had two possessions and a total of five offensive plays in the third quarter for minus-3 yards and an interception.
Cedar Creek will travel to Class 2A North Caddo next week, taking on yet another larger opponent.
