By By Chandler Myers
The Cougars of Canoe are now on a head-on collision with the Monroe Academy Volunteers in semifinal matchup in the AISA playoffs after defeating the Springwood Wildcats 46-38 in Lanett, Ala. Friday night.
The Cougars (7-5, 5-2) picked up the victory in part to their running game, which saw four different players score six touchdowns with three of those scores coming on runs of more than 70 yards.
Cougars Head Coach Heath Gibson said it was a huge win for his young program after they fell behind 14-0 in the first quarter.
The Wildcats were able to jump ahead of the Cougars thanks in part to two drives of punishing runs that allowed them easy touchdowns.
The Cougars were unable to get any offense going on their first two drives, but on their third possession sophomore running back Jaylen Henry rumbled 70 yards to pull the Cougars within six points after a successful two-point conversion.
The Cougars and Wildcats exchanged touchdowns again with the Cougars getting in on another two-point conversion after a Jon Dean touchdown to keep Springwood’s lead to six heading into halftime with the home team up 22-16.
After halftime it was all Cougars as Henry opened up the half with an 80-yard run to the endzone to put the Cougars up 24-22 after a two-point conversion run by Cameron “Cowboy” McGhee.
The Cougars kept scoring as Brandon Goens rumbled into the endzone followed by anther touchdown by McGhee.
Gibson said his offense was able to run the double Wing-T to perfection n all night.
Defensively, the Cougars played well although they allowed the Wildcats to score 38 points.
Gibson said stops that needed to be made were key in the victory.
The Cougars next game is in Monroeville at Monroe Academy. Gibson said it will be a fun game with a lot on the line.
The Cougars and the Volunteers kickoff at 7 p.m. at Monroe Academy.