These are the types of games that good teams usually show just how good they are. The mark of a state-caliber group is indicated by what they do to inferior competition and the Cougars passed with flying colors. Countryside opened their District 7A-9 schedule with an emphatic 51-0 win over the visiting Seminole Warhawks. Without even playing a snap in the 3rd Quarter, Senior RB Diomi Roberts rushed for 158 yards on just 7 carries and added 3TD’s to his season total. Senior QB Gray Crow was also in his best form of the season passing for 125 yards on 11-of-17 attempts and 3TD’s. Nico Morgado led the Cougars with 2 TD receptions (3 catches for 56 yards) while Jordan Rossi led the Cougars in total receiving yards with 3 catches for 75 yards.
Head Coach Jared Davis is still unbeaten during the regular season and barring any miracles in the opposite direction, he will guide Countryside to back-to-back perfect regular seasons having passed their stiffest tests on their schedule in the first 3 weeks. The challenge tonight though was keeping his players focused for a Seminole team that only dressed 26 players versus a Cougars squad that dress more than that for their Junior Varsity. As expected, Davis and his Staff we’re not in a mood to
“Something we’ve always said, is we don’t play to the team we play, we play ourselves. We play to the expectations we’ve set as a football team.” Davis said. “We execute and do the things we’re capable of, we should do this to a lot of teams this season.”
The Cougars pounced on the Warhawks early and often leading 14-0 before the 1st Q water break. By the end of the 1st frame, Roberts had already racked up 120 yards on 3 carries and accounted for both scores. There was some frustration early on though that made Davis reiterate that the fact there’s room for improvement. “We’ve got to continue to get better” Davis said with a serious tone. Countryside had 3 turnovers and kept 2 Seminole drives alive with penalties. One of them actually gave the Warhawks a 1st and Goal but came away with nothing. “Those are the kinds of things that will have to be improved if we’re going to make another run. Good teams will make us pay for those mistakes.”
The Cougars will now take on a familiar foe that was once a district game, but now just a neighborhood rivalry to many of the players on the team. The Cougars travel to Palm Harbor University who fell from the ranks of the undefeated losing to Clearwater Central Catholic 20-7. Even though it’s a game Countryside will be expected to win, it’s not going to be taken lightly by Davis and his Staff. “Even though the district implications are no longer there, this is still a rivalry game. Many of these kids grew up together, playing Pop Warner, attending the same elementary and middle schools. There will be no shortage of emotion. It’s a huge game for our kids”
Seminole now 0-4 faces next door neighbors Osceola in what many will compare as the Pinellas County version of Strawberry Crest vs. Leto in which both teams enter the contest without wins. The Warhawks only managed 107 total yards of offense and will look to put this loss behind them and get ready for their biggest game of the season next Friday.