Working for yardage Carroll running back Dylan Hamilton bowls over a South Newton defender Friday night. The Cougars could not contain the Rebels who won the first round sectional conSee test 30-7. Bill Stauffer photo A 15-20 mile per hour wind and a light mist made it a rough game to play for the Cougars Friday night at South Newton. The Rebels proved they are a very good football team, defeating the Cougars 30-7 in the first round of Sectional play.

The scouting report indicated the Rebels like to throw the football and that is what they did. Senior quarterback Tyler Lowe completed 13 of 27 passes with one interception for 235 yards. He threw four touchdown passes to his favorite receiver, Jordan Purdy. Purdy had caught five TD passes the week before in the Rebels’ last regular season game.

Carroll’s lone score of the game came from the defense. Defensive back Chad Griffin returned a Rebel fumble 48 yards for a touchdown at 9:25 in the first quarter. Marcus Hedrick’s PAT kick was good.

But how quickly the momentum can change. The Rebels took control of the rest of the game. Lowe found Trent Alenduff for a 41-yard TD pass. The Cougar defense denied the Rebels on the twopoint conversion play. The score was 7-6 Carroll.

Carroll failed to move the pigskin and SN’s Lowe and Purdy went to work. Lowe found Purdy for a 38-yard touchdown pass and again the two-point conversion pass was no good. The score was 12-7 South Newton at the end of the first quarter.

Alenduff had a 48-yard interception return for a touchdown and the score was 18-7 SN. Lowe found Purdy for an 18-yard TD and the Rebels were up 24-7 at halftime.

The Rebels scored again in the third quarter on a 7-yard pass from Lowe to Purdy. Carroll’s defense denied the 2-point conversion for a final score of 30-7.

South Newton’s defense was all over Carroll’s offense in the first half. The Rebels also turned three of four Carroll turnovers into touchdowns.

For the game, the Cougars had only 7 first downs, 57 yards rushing, and 29 yards passing for 86 total yards. The Cougars were able to hold the Rebels’ running game in check, allowing them only 65 yards. The passing game was another story as the Rebels had 235 yards. SN’s total offensive yards for the game were 300.

The Cougars finished the year 4-6.

With a large number of underclassmen on this team, a good number should return next year including sophomore quarterback Daniel Huckstep. This was a good learning year for the young Cougars.

There are some young ladies who need to be recognized for a job well done, week in and week out they cheered the Cougars. A big thank you to the cheerleaders.

Another big thank you to the coaching staff for your commitment and leadership.