The Copper Basin Cougars hosted the Whitwell Tigers Friday, August 17, 2012. The home team had no problem taming the Tigers as Copper Basin cruised to a 41-8 victory. The Cougars clawed to a 28-0 half time lead before giving up a late touchdown.Copper Basin’s defense started the game off with an interception by Bryce Nicholson on the first Tigers’ possession. Despite the turnover, the Cougars could not capitalize on the capture.

Nicholson started the Cougars’ drive by gaining 13 yards on his first carry. Nicholson was spelled by Denzel Brown and Justin Vazquez for little gain, and Boggs had a pass fall incomplete to end the Cougars’ first drive. They capped off the drive with a missed field goal.

After another failed drive for the Whitwell Tigers, Dylan Boggs took the ball himself on a QB keeper and scored on a 67 yard run to put the Cougars up 7-0. After a near turnover by Whitwell, the Tigers retained possession and had to punt.

Dylan Boggs took his Cougars back on to the field and completed a 10 yard pass to Stephen Spargo. Boggs pitched to Vasquez for a four yard gain. Boggs was able to keep the Cougars’ drive alive after a QB keeper net him a first down. Boggs gained another six yards on the keeper and capped the drive off with a touchdown carry on third and one after a three yard carry by Bryce Nicholson, putting Copper Basin up 14-0.

The second quarter began with Nicholson making a stellar play on fourth down, in the endzone, to get the ball back for the Cougars. After a few penalties on Whitwell and Copper Basin, and an incomplete pass by Boggs, Boggs completed a pass to Bryce Nicholson for 65 yards and another Cougar touchdown.

The Cougar defense stopped the Tiger offense again and it turned into seven more points for the Cougars. Brown and Vazquez carried for two and eight yards respectively to give the Cougars a first down. Boggs kept the ball for a 29 yard gain and got down to the 10 yard line. Boggs pitched the ball to Denzell Brown for a ten yard touchdown run, pushing the Cougars paws in possession of a 28-0 lead.

After a Whitwell pass was intercepted by Brown, the Cougars sputtered on offense for just the second time since the start of the game. The ball went back to Whitwell after a punt and Dylan Boggs came up big on defense by intercepting a Tiger pass. The Cougars could not turn this turnover into points as the Whitwell defense sacked Boggs to end the half.

Vazquez started off the third quarter with a one yard run. Boggs completed a nine yard pass to Spargo for a first down. Collin Thomas got the carry and was dropped for a six yard loss. Boggs was sacked on the next play for a two yard loss. On the pursuing play, Boggs threw the ball away to avoid another sack.

Copper Basin’s defense gave up the first touchdown of the game on a 58 yard scamper by a Whitwell runner. After a successful two point conversion, Whitwell was down 28-8.

The Cougars ran the same play to Denzell Brown on first and second down with no gain. Dylan Boggs’ third down pass fell incomplete to force a punt for the Cougars.

When Copper Basin got the ball back, Brown gained eight yards on first down. After a Whitwell penalty awarded the Cougars a first down, Brown gained five yards on another carry. A Cougar false start negated Brown’s carry. Boggs carried the ball for a one yard gain on the next play. He completed a pass to Stephen Spargo but came two yards shy of a first down.

The fourth quarter started with a QB keeper from Boggs that resulted in a first down. A delay of game backed the Cougars up five yards. Denzel Brown carried the ball for a nine yard gain. Boggs kept the ball for a five yard gain and a Cougar first down. Collin Thomas carried the ball for a seven yard gain on first down. The Cougars then fumbled the ball but were able to gain two yards on the play. Boggs completed a touchdown pass to Stephen Spargo in the back of the endzone.

After a few mistakes by both offenses, the Cougars proceeded to score one more touchdown to end the game. Denzell Brown took a pitch from Boggs down to the one yard line, and his brother Quantavious Brown punched the ball in for a score after an offsides penalty by Whitwell. The Cougars won the game 41-8.