COMING UP SEPT. 13: JAYTON TO HONOR 40TH YEAR ANNIVERSARY OF STATE TEAM
Just outside the Klondike tunnel, the Cougar cheerleaders erected a paper sign for their team to run through which read, “Warning! Destruction Ahead!”
It turned out to be prophetic, as the #4 ranked Cougars tore through that sign en route to their own doom, to the tune of a 50-0 beatdown at the hands of the #1 Jayton Jaybirds in Jayton last Friday night.
Leading the flock offensively was junior quarterback Sean Stanaland (6 of 7, 97 yards, 4 touchdowns), who wasted no time putting the Jaybirds on the board with a 35-yard touchdown pass to Bode Ham, followed with a 34-yard touchdown pass to Colt Gentry.
Head coach Josh Stanaland noted Sean’s growth on the field. “Another year in the system, another year older, another year bigger and stronger, and he’s just a kid we can trust,” he said. “We’re proud of Sean and his progression.”
The Cougars offered little defensive resistance and almost no offensive threat, totaling 80 yards on no points on the night. The Jaybird defense was led by their three-headed monster defensive line of Griff Reel, Colt Gentry and Ayden Salazar, which held the Cougar rushing attack to minus 6 yards and routinely harassed the quarterback whenever a pass was called.
Stanaland note d , “That’s the area tonight where we really liked our advantage. We knew they were going to have a tough time blocking us; when we allow Colt and Ayden and Griff to pin their ears back and go get after it, it’s really tough for someone.”
The lopsided scoreboard didn’t seem to influence the chirpy nature of a few of the Klondike players, but ultimately it was Bode Ham with the last word providing a thump and a strip of the Cougar’s #10 which he returned 55 yards for the game-ending score. The Cougar cheerleaders were definitely on to something!
The Jaybirds will next soar into action this Friday night at Jaybird stadium with a rare doubleheader against Valley; the gold junior- high team will play at 5 and the varsity will follow at 7 on a night when they will also honor the 40th anniversary of the 1984 state championship team.
