Cougars roll over Gophers
By Mike Hoffman Contributing sportswriter

Carroll king and queen Chase Meade and Lindsay Brewer were crowned king and queen at the Carroll homecoming game Friday night. Photo provided

Clinton Prairie was Carroll's fifth victim of this football season as the Cougars put the victory away early. The Gophers suffered a crushing 59-6 defeat at the hands of the Cougars.

CP came into the game 3- 2 on the year; they are a very young team, with only 6 seniors for leadership.

The Gophers were the first to score after the Cougars fumbled on their first possession. A Gopher defender picked up the ball and ran 44 yards for the visitors' first and only score of the game 6-0 CP (8:18, 1st).

The rest of the game the Cougar D shut the Gophers out of the end zone. There was a lot of hard hitting in the trenches with Carroll's defensive line putting the hurt on the Gophers.

Cody Kelly returned the kickoff to the 36-yard line where the Cougars went to work. Ben Bennington had a big run to the 15-yard line (a 49-yard return) and he was just warming up. The Cougars took the ball to the one-yard line as Riley Eller called his number and punched it in from the 1- yard line. Skylar Bagwell's PAT kick was good and the Cougars were on the scoreboard. 6-6 tie (6:39-1).

At 2:04 (1) the Cougars found the end zone again when Bagwell crossed the plain and kicked the PAT for a 14-6 CHS lead.

The Cougars were in overdrive for the homecoming crowd, moving the ball with ease. The offensive line made openings for the Cougar backs, and Bennington scored on a 3-yard run at 9:20 (2). The PAT kick was good, 21-6 CHS.

At 4:16 (2) Thomas Gilliam punched it in the end zone and Bagwell's PAT kick was good, 28-6 CHS.

Just before half time Eller hit Kelly for a 61-yard TD pass. Bagwell was on the mark again with his PAT, 35-6 CHS. Bennington put another 6 points on the board after he intercepted a Gopher pass and ran it back for a 40-yard return. It was time to put in Carroll's second stringers.

In the final quarter the Cougars put 18 more points on the board. Brandon Williamson scored on a 3- yard run, Adam Foster scored on a 9-yard run, and Brady Noonkester scored on a 4-yard run. All 3 TD runs sealed the deal for an all out dominating performance. The kids gave 110% on the field.

Bennington finished as offensive leader. He had 155 yards rushing on 17 carries, and had over 200 total yards including passing yardage from Eller.

Eller was 3 of 9 for 112 yards passing with no interceptions. The Cougars are now 5-1 on the year (2-1 in conference).

Give the frontline a big hand, as they played hard on both sides of the ball.

Again Bennington, Bush, Spesard, Gilliam, Pine and others did a great job.

The Cougars will be at home again next week facing the Clinton Central Bulldogs who come in with a 3-3 record. The Bulldogs have a new head coach. They are still a physical, hard-hitting team.