BY HANNAH EUBANKS
The CCHS Cowboys took on the Flanagan Falcons on Thursday, August 16 for the first home game of the new 2018-2019 season. This was the game that set the tone for the rest of the season. The Cowboys ended up winning with a score 24-20.
The game kicked off at about 6:30 p.m. and Flanagan scored the first touchdown of the game off of the very first play. The Falcons then proceeded to score another touchdown but there was a flag on the play and it was called back. In the following play, they were back in the end zone celebrating their 13-0 lead. Jonathan Edelman was able to sack the Falcon quarterback just as the first quarter was ending, keeping the Cowboys in the game.
The second quarter was not ideal for the Cowboys. They received a flag for holding which moved the Falcons closer and closer to their territory. The Cowboy offense could not seem to put together a good combination so they were forced to punt the ball. Because of this, the Falcons scored a touchdown. With five seconds remaining, the Cowboys made a field goal and put some numbers up on the scoreboard, going into halftime with a score 3-20.
“A big part of this game was keeping our heads up [and] the coaches not giving up on us and believing in us,” captain Mark Fontana said. “They gave it their all to give us the tools and the methods to win the game just like we practiced all week long.”
Once the Cowboys were back on defense, Fontana managed to put the pressure on the Falcons by sacking the quarterback. On the next play, Flanagan was called back for holding. Back on offense, number five got the ball for the Cowboys and was tackled down at the six yard line, almost earning a touchdown.
With a minute and 12 seconds left in the third quarter, Fontana got the ball and scored a touchdown for the Cowboys. Instead of going for one extra point, the Cowboys went for two and were able to complete the pass to Braden Long. The cheerleaders had everyone in the stands involved, stomping their feet and chanting, “let’s go defense!”
The Falcons completed their pass on the first drive, but was soon tackled by number 11 for the Cowboys. With 49 seconds left, Fontana on the carry was knocked out of bounds right at the 5-yard line, the touchdown was secured by number two and the field goal was successful. The Cowboys came back in the last minute to make the score 24-20. To finish off the game, number eight for the Cowboys intercepted the ball, ending the game for a Cowboy victory.
In this game, the Cowboys showed the skills they had been working all summer and the chemistry between their new coach by winning their first game. It was a close game but when it came down to the end, neither team gave up.
Final Score: Cooper City 24, Flanagan 20
Photo by The Lariat Photography
