Cougars Capture Playoff Position With Win

The Copper Basin Cougars football team was looking to secure a playoff birth with a win Friday October 19th. A win meant a play-in game at home. The Cougars did just that as they they traveled to Lookout Valley and took the Yellow Jackets to the proverbial woodshed with a 42-27 road victory. The Cougars started the game with a kickoff to The Yellow Jackets. The Basin defense stifled the Jacket offense and the Cougar offense took over shortly afterward.

Denzell Brown started the Cougars off with a 20 yard run followed by a big run from Justin Vasquez. Then Dylan Boggs hit Bryce Nicholson to put the Cougars up 6-0 after the two point conversion was stuffed.

The Basin defense stuffed Lookout Valley again but the Yellow Jackets were able to put points on the board after an ill-advised pass from Vazquez landed in a Jacket defender’s hands and was returned for a touchdown.

The second quarter started with Boggs completing a pass to Nicholson for a first down. Boggs called his own number and took the ball 67 yards for a Cougar touchdown. Basin led 14-7 after a successful two point conversion pass to Denzell Brown,

On Basin’s next possession, Denzell Brown carried the ball for 45 yards. Boggs completed a first down pass to Stephen Spargo. Basin was then put into a 4th and long position and decided to take one last shot to the end zone. The pass was completed to Bryce Nicholson, but the referees deemed the pass incomplete, much to the dismay of the Cougar crowd as it appeared that Nicholson kept possession of the ball all the way to the ground.

After this play, momentum swung the way of the Yellow Jackets. Lookout Valley was able to take off for a long touchdown and a failed two point attempt cut Basin’s lead to one, 14-13.

Basin showed that the Cougars did not let the controversial call in the end zone negatively affect the effort, as the offense marched down the field to score on a six yard pass to Stephen Spargo, taking a 21-13.

Basin’s defense again forced Lookout Valley to punt, and that turned out to be disastrous for the Jackets. Basin burst through the line and Chris Phelan was able to block the punt and Basin recovered. The result was a 17 yard touchdown pass to Stephen Spargo to go up 28-13.

Lookout Valley was able to score on a five yard touchdown before the half to cut Basin’s lead 28-19.

Coming out of the locker room, Basin was able to march down the field and was poised to score but a fumble resulted in a Yellow Jacket possession. Basin was able to subdue the Jacket offense without giving up points on the possession.

Basin was able to score on its next possession. This possession featured runs by Boggs and Brown as they each carried the ball effectively. The drive ended with a 25 yard touchdown pass to Spargo.

Bryce Nicholson intercepted a Yellow Jacket pass, but the offense was unable to turn it into any points.

Lookout Valley turned the ball over on its next possession and the Cougars made the most of this mistake with a 14 yard touchdown run by Dylan Boggs. Basin led 42-19 at this point.

Lookout Valley was able to drive the length of the field and score on Basin’s second team defense before the end of the game to cut Basin’ lead 42-27. Basin was able to run out the clock and secure this Cougar victory.