Mistakes too costly for Cougars
By Mike Hoffman

Carroll's #81 Ty Sullivan is earning some nice yardage for the Cougars after this third quarter catch. The Cougars lost to Tri Central 20-15. Bill Stauffer photo

The Cougars, playing at home for the first time this season, lost a heartbreaker Friday night. Both teams were looking for their first win of the season.

Playing in their first conference game, the Tri Central Trojans came away with a 20-15 victory.

Both teams came out fired up. The Cougars kicked off to the Trojans, who then went 87 yards on 5 plays for their first score at 8:59 (1). The point after attempt was no good. With that score the Trojans had the momentum early.

As with the first game, this one wasn't very pretty either. Huge mistakes cost the Cougars again. The team isn't playing very smart football right now. The offense will be moving the football, only to have someone called for holding or some other penalty.

In the first period the Cougars had a nice pass play from Riley Eller to Ty Sullivan, only to be called back for an illegal block on a Cougar penalty. That pass play was 80 yards total. That setback devastated the Cougars, who were unable to mount a scoring drive until the second quarter.

The Cougar scoring drive came at 7:14 (2) when Eller found Primmer Zook for a 10-yard touchdown pass play. The Cougars elected to go for the 2point conversion and Eller found Nick Flora as the Cougars were up 8-6.

The Trojans scored in the third quarter when Eller fumbled. The Trojans picked up the pigskin and went 80-yards for the score. The Cougars squandered a scoring opportunity, another major mistake.

Carroll scored again in the fourth quarter to take the lead 1514.

The Trojans and their fans, however, could taste a win. They scored again to take back the lead 20-15. The Cougars had a chance to win but fell short as the Trojans intercepted Eller's pass at their 7-yard line. The interference call against the Cougars was par for the night.

The Cougars were whistled nine times for mistakes. They lost a whopping 110 yards, including two first downs, to the Trojans on penalties.

Sullivan and Nick Flora were the workhorses for the Cougars. Eller carried well and did a good job passing. His blockers need to be a little more physical in moving

tacklers out of the way. Sometimes Eller isn't getting much room to run.

In watching the game there doesn't seem to be much Cougar spirit on the sidelines, nor in the stands or cheer block. That could be the needed spark to get this team winning.

Now the Cougars need to regroup and focus on a victory at North Newton. Game time Friday night is 7:30 p.m. Looking ahead at the schedule, it's going to get tougher, much tougher.