In a game in which the Carroll Cougars had a chance to win its second of the year, there were four trips to the red zone. The Cougars were only able to score once. Carroll's defense, the bright spot for the Cougars, held the Clinton Prairie offense in check for most of the night. However, three miscues, one fumble and two interceptions kept the Cougars out of the end zone, all night.

The Gophers come away with a 12-8 Hoosier Heartland Conference victory. They are 4-2 after 6 games and the Cougars fall to 1-5 on the year.

The game was delayed for about 40 minutes after an official spotted lightening in the north.

The Cougar defense started the game strong and stopped the Gophers after just one first down. Kicking into the wind, the punt went straight up and bounced backwards giving the Cougars great field position. Starting at the Gophers 34, the Cougar field general Riley Eller got the team moving and drove the ball to the Gopher 5-yard line, only to have the drive stall as the Cougars turned the pigskin over on downs.

The two teams struggled on offense throughout most of the first half, until the Gophers finally broke the plane, with less than 5 minutes. Gophers quarterback Shawn Walker directed a nine-play, 90-yard drive that he capped with a one-yard touchdown run. Clinton Prairie's conversion attempt failed, as the Gophers held an early 6-0 lead late in the second quarter. A young man by the name of Jared Sciefert a senior, was the dagger in the Cougar's side on that drive as he went 64 yards on one play, He finished the game with 118 yards.

The Cougars came right back however, when they started at their own 35. Riley Eller marched the Cougars down field. He completed 2 of 3 passes on the drive, including a 45-yard strike to Nick Flora. That put the Cougars at the 9-yard line. Senior Ty Sullivan punched it in for the score. The Cougars' conversion also failed for a tied score at 6-6 at 2:50 remaining in the half.

The Gophers struck again with 0:53 tics left in the half Walker found Siefert for a 10 yard TD. The extra point try failed and the score was 12-6 (CP).

It was a defensive battle in the third quarter. The Cougars' defense played hard nose football, keeping the Gophers out of the end zone.

The Cougars seemed to struggle in the second half. The officials stopped the play because of lightening around 7:48 of the third quarter. When play resumed both teams came out flat. The defense took over. When the Cougars finally got the ball moving late in the fourth quarter, Eller moved the Cougars 75 yards and it looked like they were going to get their second victory of the year. Misfortune struck as the Gophers picked off Eller's pass.

The Gophers had a penalty that put them at their 5yard line. On the next play, the Gophers never had a good exchange as the ball hit the ground and rolled into the end zone. Although the Gophers picked the ball up they were tacked in the end zone for a safety.

When the Cougar offense got the ball back, they couldn't move it and the Gophers just ran the clock out and went home with a victory.

This was a game where mistakes just killed the Cougars. They finished the game with 243 total yards, including 90 through the air, as Eller completed 6 of 15 with 1 pick. He also finished with 86 yards rushing and Flora finished with 56 yards rushing.

Now the Cougars need to regroup because this week is homecoming and another conference game. Their opponent is the Clinton Central Bulldogs. The Homecoming tailgate party starts at 6:30 in the school parking lot. Kick-off is set for 7:30.