What a ball game! And the best part - Carroll won.

There was some sweet dancing going on in the stands. The cheer block was on their feet all night long. And the Cougar defense was all over the Vikings of North White - forcing 8 turnovers.

For the Carroll Cougars, it was a great victory heading into sectional play. This was also a big win for the seniors. It was there last regular season game at home.

The Cougar defense that forced 8 Vikings turnovers (5 fumbles and 3 interceptions) and the right arm of Riley Eller was just the right recipe for Carroll's success. There was a total of 13 turnovers, but only 18 first downs by both teams. For a while it didn't look like there would a winner, as both teams had trouble holding onto the ball. However, the Cougars were able to capitalize on a handful of Viking mistakes to claim their second victory of the year. The 22-0 thrashing of the Vikings was on senior night.

"It's our second win and we're glad to get it," stated Cougar coach Rick George. "We really needed a win."

The Cougars had 11 first downs to just 7 for the Vikings. Their defense held their opponents to just 1 first down and 44 all-purpose yards in the first half.

In the second half the Vikings moved the football, but a strong Cougar defense kept them out of the end zone.

The Cougars drew first blood in the second quarter at the 2:34 mark, when Eller found senior Cory Mahan for a 10-yard touchdown pass in the back of the end zone. The point after attempt was no good, as the Cougars went to the locker room at halftime leading 6- 0.

The Vikings took the ball to start the second half, but their drive was stalled when they fumbled and the Cougars recovered. Senior Nick Flora carried the ball for the next two plays for 20-yards as the Cougars had the ball on the Vikings' 23-yard line. Eller threw a bullet in the end zone, however, a taller defender intercepted his pass. The Vikings had the football on their own 20-yard line. On their second play the Vikings turned it over again when Ty Sullivan picked off a pass. The Cougars capitalized again on the Vikings' turnover with a 13-yard run by sophomore Ben Bennington and a 7-yard run by Flora. The Cougars had the ball on the Vikings' 3-yard line. On the next play, Eller threw for a 3-yard TD pass to Bennington in the end zone. On the extra point attempt Deric Finley kept the ball on a fake kick and ran it in for the two-point conversion. The Cougars were up 14-0 at 1:46 (3).

The Vikings looked like they were about to get in the game, when their quarterback Dustin Hileman hit Tyson Jones for a 14- yard gain and Justin McAnelly for a 28-yard pass to the Cougar 27- yard line. The Vikings tried a run for a no gain and two incomplete passes. Hileman threw a pass intended for Jones on 4 and 10. The pass was picked off by Finley at the 5-yard line. Finley broke tackles and sprinted for 95-yards for the touchdown at 8:20 (4). Eller threw to Finley in the end zone for the two-point conversion. The Cougar JV team finished out the final minutes of the game, doing a really good job.

The Cougar defense held the Vikings to just 46yards rushing and 131 yards passing for a total 177 yards.

"Coach Dan Butcher implemented a great defensive game plan," said Coach George, "and the kids did a great job executing it."

Eller led the ground attack with 58 yards on 19 carries and was 9 of 24 for 165 yards, plus 2 interceptions. He also threw for 2 touchdowns.

Finley caught 3 passes for 30 yards, a 2-point conversion pass, and ran an interception back 95 yards. Flora had some good runs carrying the football.

The defense played tough, as there was a lot of gang tackling for the Cougars. Coach Butcher encouraged his defense and at the same time Coach Tommy Hall kept the Cougars on the sidelines fired up. Again, as in the Cougars' first

victory, Coach Dave Mann had "that gut feeling" and his hunch paid off. Now the Cougars can go into the sectional on a winning note. In first round sectional 36 competition, the Cougars will take on the Wes-Del Warriors at 7 p.m. Friday at Carroll. The Warriors have a 3-6 record, losing their last game of regular play 36-10 to Lapel. Head Coach Cody Thompson is 5-14 in his second year at Wes-Del.