Courtland's Antonio Smith lunges forward, carrying a Spotsylvania defender, following a catch in last night's game. Photos by View More Images from this story Visit the Photo Place

Cougars make Knights pay for miscues

High school football: Spotsylvania at Courtland

Date published: 10/28/2006

By STEVE FRANZELLO

Five turnovers in one football game can be costly. Against an opportunistic team like Courtland, they can be downright deadly.

Playing in a cold, driving rain for the entire evening, the Cougars took advantage of poor field conditions as well as a slew of Spotsylvania errors to post a 49-7 Battlefield District and keep their district record perfect at 4-0.

It was the fourth straight win for the Cougars (7-1 overall), who close the regular season with key district tests at James Monroe on Friday and at home against Caroline in two weeks.

Spotsylvania, which lost three of six fumbles and gave up two interceptions, fell to 2-5, 2-3.

"I was pleased with pretty much everything we did tonight, especially under these conditions," Courtland coach J.C. Hall said. "We just wanted to get out of here with a win and get ready for next week."

Courtland scored three touchdowns in the first half and all three were the result of turnovers by Spotsylvania.

Linebacker Raheem Cardwell set the tone early when he intercepted Knights quarterback Stevie Jackson's pass on the game's first play and returned it to the Spotsylvania 24.

It then took the Cougars just six plays to punch in their first score. Sophomore running back De'onte Jones capped the drive with a 2-yard run. It was the first of two touchdowns for the 144-pound speedster, who led all rushers with 109 yards on nine carries.

Spotsylvania responded to the touchdown with a 13-play drive of its own, but came up empty when Ethan Perry's 31-yard field goal attempt fell short.

The failed drive was a sign of things to come for the Knights, who proved to be their own worst enemy at times, especially in the second quarter when they committed three turnovers, two of which led to Courtland points.

"It's frustrating and it's been the same every week," Spotsylvania coach Myron Mathias said. "Moving the ball from the 20 to the 20 has not been the problem. We've had opportunities, we just keep making mistakes."

The mistakes were definitely costly in the second quarter.

After Jay Madison stopped another Knights' drive with an interception, Cougars linebacker Adam Sheets, a defensive standout all night, set up a Tajh Pendleton 1-yard score with a fumble recovery at the the Spotsylvania 40.

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Date published: 10/28/2006