Touchdown in final seconds leads to Cougar heartbreak

It was a heartbreaking start to the regular season for the football Cougars Friday night at Temerian Field, as the boys in blue fell to the visiting Manila Lions, 19-13.

The game was truly one which "went down to the wire," as the two teams were tied at 13-13 going into the final moments.

After stalling out at midfield, the Cougars saw Manila take possession with 53 seconds left to play. Manila moved into Rector territory on a 19 yard completion from Lion quarterback Josh Miles to Brian Borden. Switching to quarterback Dillon Burrow, Manila utilized the option, as Burrow scampered ahead to the Rector 15-yard-line. Time continued to run down as the Lions moved to the 12 with under 20 seconds on the clock. The very next play, Miles, back in at quarterback, flung a pass toward the end zone. The Cougar defense got a hand on the ball, but the resulting tip sent the pigskin right into the waiting arms of Manila receiver Jared Burks for the go-ahead score with seven seconds to play.

The extra point attempt was blocked, but the damage was done, as time ran out on the Cougars.

The Cougars took a 7-0 lead in the first quarter. Taking possession after the guests turned the ball over on a failed fourth and one conversion at the Manila 30, Rector needed just four plays on the drive to find the promised land. Seth Parsley secured nine yards on back-to-back carries, moving the Cougars down to Manila's 21-yard-line. Rodney Hall, who left the game late in the first half with a leg injury, picked up another seven yards through the middle. Parsley then took the ball in from there, breaking free of a tackle on a sweep right that tallied 14 yards, but garnered six points. Cory Hager's PAT sailed true, giving Rector the 7-0 advantage with 3:32 remaining in the first frame.

The score remained the same at halftime, as both teams battled defensively.

The guests were able to score late in the third, chewing up 66 yards on two passes and a 15-yard face masking penalty against the home squad. Miles found Borden for the first of two touchdown connections between the duo from 21 yards out with 1:50 left in the third. The pass on the ensuing try for two was broken up by Zac Gilbee, as the Cougars were able to maintain a slight lead at 7-6.

Rector started their next drive with good position, as Parsley returned the kickoff 32 yards, setting his squad up at midfield. On the drive, which extended into the first three minutes of the fourth quarter, Parsley carried six times for 34 yards and Clinton Haley rushed three times for 13 yards, including a yard rumble up the gut, wherein he turned around and backed two defenders across the goal line with him. The PAT was blocked, as Rector moved ahead 13-6 with 9:14 left to play.

Manila was able to drive against the Cougars on their next possession, as the home team, most of whom were playing every down on both sides of the ball, began to show signs of exhaustion. Miles hit Borden from 24 yards out and nailed the PAT to tie the game at the 7:43 mark, setting up the heartbreaking finish.

Fatigue was a factor for the squad, as Manila was able to use their greater numbers to make a late surge.

"For more than three quarters, we were the better team," Rector coach Bob Alberson said. "We got tired there at the end and they were able to come back on us. That's the difference in the game."

It may have only been the first official game of the season, but Parsley is already laying claim to being one of the most exciting players on any field in the state on Friday nights. The senior back rushed 31 times, often dragging a defender or just shaking his man out right, for 161 yards. Haley netted 21 yards on six touches. Sophomore quarterback Dustin Sparks gained 16 yards on six carries.

"Seth Parsley played his heart out like he does every time he gets on the field," Alberson said. "He's a warrior who plays as hard as anybody I've ever seen."

The loss of Hall hurt the Cougars on both sides of the ball. Currently, the senior's return is in doubt with the severity of his injury unknown at press time. Early reports indicated Hall may have suffered a break in his tibia, possibly sidelining him for the remainder of the season.

"When he went down, it hurt us," Alberson said. "It hurt us not only because of his talent on the field, but I think it knocked the wind out of our sails some when he went down."

The Cougars will open up conference play Friday night, as they host Augusta. The game will begin at 7:30 p.m. Friday.