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Countryside Locks Up 5A-8 District Title

COUGARS 35, EAGLES 21

Eric Horchy/SUNCOAST

Despite the loss, East Lake running back Jamaal Wilburn was Friday night's overall top performer. The speedy yet powerful senior rushed for two touchdowns and 229 yards on 31 carries.

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By Eric Horchy | The Suncoast News

Published: October 31, 2009

EAST LAKE - For the first time since 2005, Countryside High can call itself a district champion.

The Cougars (8-1, 4-0) jumped out of the gates hot and then held off East Lake (5-3, 2-1) for a solid 35-21 win on the road.

Big plays were the story of the game for Countryside – both making them on offense and avoiding them defensively.

After opening the game with a 40-yard gain on an end-around pass from receiver Todd Shorter to fellow wideout Jalen Goodloe, the Cougars went on to score three of their five touchdowns courtesy of plays 45 yards or more. Pinellas County rushing leader Alton Taylor polished of that first drive six plays later with a 1-yard end zone plunge.

East Lake's first possession ground to a halt following 20 yards worth of penalties and Countryside wasted little time in striking again. Goodloe did it with his legs this time on another end-around, squeaking through two would-be East Lake tacklers and burning down the sideline for a 56-yard score making it 14-0 Cougars.

Still in the opening quarter, East Lake stayed composed and went to its go-to weapon on offense – RB Jamaal Wilburn. The Eagles pounded the ball downfield with nine consecutive runs – seven to Wilburn – for an 82-yard touchdown drive capped by the senior's powerful 29-yard effort.

Despite the loss, Wilburn was an absolute workhorse for Coach Bob Hudson and the East Lake offense, picking up 229 yards on 31 carries and two touchdowns. With the help of his offensive line letting Wilburn hit holes hard, the senior muscled through leg cramps and repeatedly shed tacklers, or simply drove through them, for extra yardage all night.

The Eagles narrowly outgained Countryside 384-367, but ran 28 more plays. Largely because of the Cougars' quick strikes, East Lake ran a whopping 72 offensive snaps – 16 more than anytime this year.

"First of all, that was probably two pretty even teams," said Countryside head coach John Davis. "East Lake doesn't quit and we got two really big plays off and that was probably the difference in the game. Defensively we just kept grinding and hanging on and that's what we've been doing all year."

While Taylor didn't put up his typical gaudy ground numbers (25 for 106, TD), his presence alone in the backfield appeared to open up room for other teammates. This was best displayed with the senior's other touchdown, a 60-yard touchdown pass on the first play of the fourth quarter that put Countryside on top 35-14. Taking a sweep left, Taylor looked to be cordoned off near the East Lake sideline. He promptly pulled up and hit a wide open Shorter for the score.

"Alton has got his yards against absolutely everybody," Davis said of his star back. "He's a tough competitor, you never hear a word of complaint out of him and I just think he's the number one guy in the county."

Cougars quarterback Jimbo Chmelik accounted for the other two scores – one with his arm and another with his legs. Adding to the big-play theme, Chmelik broke through the East Lake defensive front with a 45-yard run midway through the second. On the prior possession, Chmelik hit Tyler Walker for a 7-yard TD pass after the Cougars' longest drive of the game, a 12-play, 73-yard march.

Although trailing 28-7 at the half, East Lake came out motivated to start the second.

The Eagles went 64 yards in 10 plays and scored on a 12-yard Wilburn run. Linebackers Justin Clarida and Bobby Lyons helped increase that momentum with big plays that forced a Countryside three-and-out on its first possession of the half.

Two scores was as close as East Lake could get, though, after falling into a quick, early hole.

Defensively, Countryside's Marrieo Taylor and Lyons of East Lake each recorded interceptions on back-to-back possessions in the second quarter.

The Cougars end their season next week at home with a postseason tune up against 7-1 Largo High.

"I couldn't be more pleased," Davis said. "We haven't won a district since 2005. We told our seniors that they were in eighth grade the last time. It's a big win for us and I'm really proud of our players."

East Lake still controls its own destiny to grab the runners-up playoff berth, but there are numerous scenarios that can still play out involving both Dunedin (1-7, 1-2) and Palm Harbor University (3-5, 1-2). A road victory over Dunedin locks up second place for the Eagles. A loss combined with a Palm Harbor win over Clearwater High next week sets up a three-team playoff. That congested outcome would make it two straight years for extra football being needed in this district to decide who moves on to the playoffs.

SCORING:

Countryside; 14; 14; 0; 7; - 35
East Lake; 7; 0; 7; 7; - 21

CS - Taylor 1-yard run. PAT kick (Griswold) – 1st Quarter
CS - Conley 56-yard run. PAT kick (Griswold) – 1st Quarter
EL - Wilburn 29-yard run. PAT kick (Mitchell) – 1st Quarter
CS - Walker 7-yard pass from Chmelik. PAT kick (Griswold) – 2nd Quarter
CS - Chmelik 45-yard run. PAT kick (Griswold) – 2nd Quarter
EL - Wilburn 12-yard run. PAT kick (Mitchell) – 3rd Quarter
CS - Shorter 60-yard pass from Taylor. PAT kick (Griswold) – 4th Quarter
EL - Shaffer 0-yard run PAT kick (Mitchell) – 4th Quarter

TEAM STATS:

---------------CS---------EL
First Downs-----12-----18
Atts./Rushing Yds.-----33-211-----43-295
Comp./Pass Atts./Int.-----7-11-1-----7-29-1
Passing Yds. -----156-----89
Total Offense-----367-----384
Fumbles/Lost-----0-0-----2-0
Punts/Avg.-----1-36.0-----3-32.7
Penalties-----4-30-----4-45

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS:

RUSHING
CS – Taylor (25-106, TD), Conley (4-59, TD), Chmelik (3-41, TD).
EL – Wilburn (31-229, 2 TD), Roefaro (5-31).

PASSING
CS – Chmelik (5-9 for 56, TD, INT), Taylor (1-1 for 60, TD).
EL – Shaffer (7-29 for 89, INT).

RECEIVING
CS – Shorter (2-69, TD), Goodloe (2-44), Walker (1-7, TD).
EL – Higbee (3-28), Gilghrest (1-33), Dovel (1-15).

Eric Horchy can be reached at 727-815-1071 or ehorchy@suncoastnews.com.

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