The Copper Basin Cougars hosted the Sale Creek Panthers Friday, September 6, for a district match up.
Both teams played well, but Copper Basin’s defense showed up and their offense put the game away in the second half to win the game 40-7.
On offense, quarterback Bryson Grabowski had a great night, throwing for 357 yards and three touchdowns. Grabowski also had 28 yards rushing and three touchdowns on the ground.
The Cougars received the ball first as Dawson Worthy brought it out to the Cougars 32-yard line.
Runningback Chance Bailey went to work, rushing 12 yards for a first and ten at their own 45-yard line, but a flag put the Cougars back at their own 28-yard line to make it second and 27.
The Cougars went through the air to try to gain yards and threw an interception to give the Panthers the ball at the Cougars 20-yard line. The Copper Basin defense took the field and was fired up, as Chase Mickens shut down the first play, followed by a big stop by Addison Hook and Joseph Johnson to make it third and six at the Cougars 16-yard line. After a well defended incomplete pass the Panthers decided to go for it from the Cougars 16-yard line on fourth down.
Timothy Fair blew the play up and had a huge stuff for a five yard loss to give Copper Basin the ball back at their own 21-yard line.
Bailey muscled his way to the 34-yard line for a first down and then broke off a run to the Panther’s 47-yard line.
Quarterback Grabowski then dropped back and found Mickens on a 47-yard touchdown reception. Copper Basin’s extra point was no good as the Cougars led 6-0 with 8:19 to go in the first.
Sale Creek brought the Cougar kick to the 50 yard line as the Panthers set up shop. The Cougars offensive line stuffed the Panthers on first down to make it second and 10. Joe Boggs and Eli Patterson stopped a run on the next play to make it third and four from the Cougars 44-yard line. The Panthers were able to move the chains however, all the way to the Cougars 25-yard line.
The Cougars locked down Sale Creek as the Panthers were in fourth and 13 from the 28-yard line. Fair got the stop to give Copper Basin’s offense the ball at their own 26-yard line. Copper Basin was unable to move the chains and had to punt the ball back to the Panthers. The Cougar defense remained stout as Boggs, Tyler Adams, Sebastian Balilies and Mickens locked up the Panthers and gave the ball back to the Cougar offense at their own 39-yard line.
Grabowski and Bailey used their feet to wheel their way to the Panther’s 45-yard line, before an incomplete pass forced the Cougars to punt.
Grabowksi punted the ball as the Panthers took over at their own 13-yard line. The Panthers later fumbled and Fair fell on the football to give the Cougars a first and goal from the Panthers 4-yard line. Grabowski was able to roll out and find paydirt as he ran it in for a four yard touchdown. The Cougars went for two and Grabowski found Mickens for a good two point conversion as the Cougars led 14-0 with 3:56 to go in the half.
The Cougars squib kicked the ball and caught the Panthers off guard. The Cougars fell on the ball and the offense was back on the field at the Panthers 46-yard line. The Cougars tried to extend the lead, but a turnover gave Sale Creek the ball at their own 36-yard line. The Panthers got in a rhythm and got into Cougar territory before Boggs, Larry Dye and Patterson shut Sale Creek down to make it fourth and 10 at the Copper Basin 20-yard line.
Fair, once again, came up big and stopped a first down to give the Cougars the ball at their own 12-yard line. Bailey fought his way to the 14-yard line before Grabowski found shifty wideout Tim Jabaley for a 58-yard reception to the Sale Creek 39-yard line. Jabaley then caught a Grabowski catch to the 18-yard line as the Cougars hurried to the line of scrimmage to try to spike the ball. The Cougars succeeded, but were unable to score before halftime as the Cougars led 14-0.
To start the third quarter, Copper Basin kicked off and the Panthers brought the ball out to their own 23-yard line. The Panthers had high energy and were able to move the chains and eventually score to slice into the Cougar lead. After a good extra point, the Cougars led 14-7 with 6:09 to go in the third.
Each team went a possession on offense without scoring as the Cougars received a Sale Creek punt at their own 12-yard line. Bailey ran for four yards to make it second and six from the 16-yard line followed by a big 24-yard pass to Mickens to give the Cougars the ball at their own 41-yard line. Grabowski went to Mickens again on the very next play and Mickens came down with a 29-yard catch to set up the Cougar offense at the Panthers 30-yard line.
Grabowski then found Jabley through the air to move the Cougars to the 11-yard line. A Worthy catch put the Cougars at the 3-yard line and Grabowski was able to scramble and find the red and white checkerboard endzone for a Cougar touchdown. The two point conversion was no good as the Cougars led 20-7 with 1:31 to go in the third quarter.
The Copper Basin defense locked the Panthers offense down the remainder of the game, not allowing another score. The Sale Creek Panthers punted back to the Cougars who set up shop at their own 18-yard line. Grabowski went to Mickens on the first play of the drive and found him for another huge gain to put the Cougars at the Panthers 32-yard line.
A flag on Copper Basin put them at the 37 yard line, but Grabowski hit Mickens through the air again to put the Cougars at the 6-yard line for a first and goal.
Grabowski then passed to Bailey who made a six yard touchdown reception to extend the lead. After a no good two point conversion, The Cougars led 26-7 with 9:25 to go in the game.
The Panthers felt the pressure on offense as Addison Hook knocked the ball out and Mickens was able to pick up the fumble and take it to the Panthers 5-yard line.
Bailey ran to the two yard line and Grabowski finished the drive with a 2-yard touchdown scamper. Grabowski hit Mickens on the two point conversion to give the Cougars a 34-7 lead with 7:40 to go in the fourth quarter.
Sale Creek was out of rhythm as they received the ball and tried to go through the air for quick points. Adams was able to read the Panthers play on a third down and intercept the ball to give the Cougars the ball back at the Panthers 48-yard line. Grabowski wasted no time as he dropped back and hit Mickens for a 19-yard pass to put them at the Sale Creek 29-yard line. Grabowski then found Jabaley through the air as Jabaley caught the ball and drug defenders to the three yard line. After a sack and penalty the Cougars were in a third and goal situation from the 15 yard line as Grabowski dropped back and hit Jabaley in the right corner of the endzone for a 15-yard touchdown grab. The two point conversion was no good as the Cougars led 40-7 with 4:15 to go in the game.
The score remained at 40-7 until the final buzzer as the Cougars win their second game of the season and are now 2-1.
Copper Basin head coach Chad Grabowski said after the game, “I was very proud of how the team played and responded the second half to our adjustments. The boys did a great job of executing the game plan. It’s a great start to Region play, we just need to continue to stay focused and play week to week. If we will continue to improve each week it should be a fun year.”