TAMPA — Moments after one of the most astounding wins in his eight seasons at Countryside, coach John Davis assembled his exhilarated players in an end zone and raised this rhetorical question.
"Why can't we go all the way?"
Few could dare debate that point after the Cougars (11-1) transformed the chilliest night of the season into bleak Friday for Tampa Bay Tech (9-2).
In what Davis anticipated would be a "street fight," the Cougars had landed 21 points' worth of haymakers before the Titans knew what hit them en route to a 47-20 romp. Countryside hosts Plant in a Class 5A region championship showdown next week.
"They did what we didn't expect them to do," said Titans coach C.C. Culpepper, whose defense had held six previous foes to 10 or fewer points. "They actually got after us a little more than I thought, so hats off to them.."
How much better? On the scoreboard, on the stat sheet, at the line of scrimmage and certainly at the starting gate.
When Countryside quarterback Jimbo Chmelik (226 total yards, four total touchdowns) scored on a 16-yard run on the second quarter's opening play to give the visitors a 21-0 lead, TBT had yet to tally a first down.
The Titans totaled only 148 yards on the night and lost two fumbles, both of which Countryside converted into TDs. Chmelik and senior Alton Taylor (33 carries, 198 yards, three TDs) flourished behind an offensive line that may have played its best game.
Chmelik (11-for-13, 159 yards) completed his first seven passes. Among them: a 4-yard touchdown to Tyler Walker that capped a 12-play opening drive extended when TBT was whistled for roughing kicker William Griswold on a 36-yard field goal attempt. Three plays after forcing TBT to go three and out, Taylor scored from 35 yards. A Maurice Hagens fumble on the ensuing Titans possession set up the Cougars' eight-play drive capped by Chmelik's 16-yarder.
"You can't line up and just bang them; they're too good," Davis said. "So to line up and just run our offense, I didn't think we could. We were going to have to use some misdirection, we were gonna have to use the play (action) pass. Jimbo did a great job on the naked boots and things like that. …We ran a bunch of stuff at them."
TBT seized momentum in the second quarter on a dizzying sequence started by Johnathon Williams' 22-yard scoring pass to C.J. Jackson, cutting the deficit to 21-6. Countryside fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Hagens (10 carries, 60 yards) scored from 18 yards the next play.
TBT got no closer. Countryside scored on its first four possessions of the second half. The proverbial dagger: a 47-yard touchdown run by Chmelik that made it 40-14 with 1:09 to play in the third.
"It seems like we're peaking a little bit at the right time," Davis said. "…Our kids came out to play, and I'm very, very proud of 'em."
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Anyone else excited For James Wilder Jr. vs. Tyler Moore?
Way to go Cougars! Go all the way!
This isn't 1981 dude ... why are you talking about James Wilder and Mary Tyler Moore???
/sarcasm
Pushy wants to give a shout out to Tampa Bay Tech for their hospitality Friday night. Parking was only $2. A hot dog, diet Pepsi, and a bottled water cost me only $3.50. After the game the TBT fans wished the Cougars well against Plant. And how 'bout a shout out to the Band and Cheerleaders who showed up without their Director/Coaches to support the team on their own time. The Cougar fans always travel well and bring the noise. It's a pleasure watching this great group of young men execute Coach Davis' game plan to perfection. No doubt, Coach Davis has this team peaking in the playoffs.
Great job Countryside!!! Now on to Plant!
Wow!! Yes, I know I'm a little late to the party but I'm sure you understand. I could have never imagined Cside beating TBT like that. I expected them to win but more like a 21-14 score. They came out & dominated in that first quarter & really set TBT back on their heels. I wasn't sure what to think & how the young men would respond after they let TBT back in the game during the 2nd quarter.
Coming out in the 2nd half they left no doubt they were the dominating team by scoring on those first 4 possesions. Coach Davis was brilliant with the game plan & that offense was unstoppable. The defense stepped up again & when TBT had to go to the pass I knew the game was over. As I said last week, TBT has no passing game. Kudos to this team & all the fans that came out in the cold to support the team.
Lets not make to much of TBT's win over Plant earlier this year. That was without their starting QB & they are a better team now as Cside is. Plant will test the defense with the run & especially the pass. I'm sure Coach Davis will have a great game plan for this one as well. It should be an exciting game & I believe Cside can win this one too as long as they keep the mistakes to a minimum & play Cside football. :)