Cougars looking ahead after difficult defeat

Friday night's game with Augusta is one the Rector players and coaches are hoping to leave in the past. After beginning play with two strong showings, including a preseason win over Corning and nearly pulling out a victory over Manila in the regular season opener, the Cougars were dealt a mighty blow at home last week, falling to the visiting Red Devils, 42-6.

"We're going to put that game behind us and move on," Rector coach Bob Alberson said. "We're going to focus on improving and make sure we do a better job from here on."

The first drives of the game essentially told the tale of things to come on the night.

Rector managed five plays before coming up mere inches short on fourth-and-one at the Augusta 33-yard-line. There was some excitement on the drive, though, as the home team caught Augusta napping on the first play from scrimmage when quarterback Dustin Sparks connected with tailback Seth Parsley on a 20 yard pass which Parsley stretched into a gain of 42 with some excellent after-the-catch footwork. Still, the Augusta defense held when it mattered.

For their part, the Rector defense struggled much of the night against the all-around speed of the visitors. Augusta. The visitors went 68 yards on five plays to score on their first possession. Rector fell behind 7-0 with 7:28 remaining in the first quarter.

With the Cougars forced to punt from their own 34, the Red Devils broke through the line before the ball could be launched in the air, forcing punter Cory Hager to scramble out to the 36-yard-line before he was taken down, and setting up tremendous field position for the guests.

Rector refused to bow, though, as linebacker Clinton Haley battled in a tip-off with a Red Devil pass which ultimately bounced to defensive back Zac Gilbee after three taps.

The clouds came back around the silver lining though, as Rector was forced to go four-and-out. Augusta got to the punter again, taking over at the Cougar 32.

Augusta fumbled the ball away to Rector two plays into the ensuing drive, but Rector responded with a lost fumble on the very next play, setting up a Red Devil touchdown with just over a minute left in the first.

Rector trailed 14-0 after the first.

It looked like the Cougars would put together a scoring drive in the second frame, as the running game of Parsley was in full effect. What looked to be a big gain ended on a sour note, though, as the ball came loose at the Rector nine-yard-line, stopping the hosts in their tracks.

Augusta marched 91 yards on 12 plays, scoring on a 30 yard touchdown pass with just under four minutes remaining in the half.

The Cougars found their way to the scoreboard with less than two minutes remaining in the third quarter. Starting near midfield, Rector kept the ball on the ground for a 15-play drive which spanned 54 yards and concluded with fullback Clinton Haley slamming through a wall in the middle of the defensive line from about six inches out for the touchdown. The try for two was batted down, setting the score at 21-6 heading into the fourth.

The final period was a disastrous one for Rector. The first two Cougar possessions consisted of a combined three plays, both ending with interceptions which set up scores by the visitors. The third Cougar possession didn't fully materialize, as the ball ricocheted off a Rector player on the kickoff return, only to be picked back up by Augusta. The Red Devils managed to score three times in just over four-and-a-half minutes to set the final in place.

"We didn't execute the way we should've," Alberson said. "We played like we didn't want to be out there. There's no excuse for the way that we played. We played as hard as we could in two games before that"

This week, the Cougars will host conference foe Salem. A year ago, the Cougars began a three-game win-streak by topping the Greyhounds on the road. Kickoff for this year's meeting is slated for 7:30 p.m. Friday in Rector.