#15 Joe Boggs hands off to #12 Sebastian Baliles behind Copper Basin’s line. Photo by DJ Underwood

       Friday night was a beautiful night for the Copper Basin Cougars to finally be back under the lights and suited up for battle. Due to Covid-19 protocols and a scheduled week off the Cougars have not been on the field since they faced the Polk County Wildcats to open the season. The boys in the Basin were ready to get back to work and get rid of the cat-scratch fever left after a tough loss to cross-county rival Polk before their hiatus and take it out on another set of cats, the Sale Creek Panthers.

       The Cougars came out of the gate ready to right the ship that is the 2021 season by pouncing on an onside kick to open the contest. With the ball in their possession Copper Basin was able to get movement on the ground and in the air and march down the field. Joe Boggs was finally able to connect with Cadan Williams for a 30 yard touchdown pass to put the Cougars on the board. The extra point was blocked making the score 6 – 0 Basin. Sale Creek received the following kickoff and then began their offensive campaign to answer back. It took the Panthers most of the quarter to move the ball down the field but they were finally able to make their mark on the board. With a two point conversion the Panthers went up over the Cougars 8 – 6.

       The second quarter would start with this score but it would not take long before the Cougars would capitalize. After a mixed attack using Sebastian Baliles on the ground and various receivers in the air, along with some rushes by quarterback Joe Boggs, the Cougars gained half a dozen more points on a seven yard connection from Boggs to freshman Cade Dean. A missed extra point attempt put the Cougars back on top 12 – 8 with just shy of 12 minutes left in the half. The second quarter was full of grinding yards with each team going back and forth but neither finding the promised land until the Panthers were able to punch it in for 6. With a good extra point attempt the Panthers were back in the lead by three. The whistle blew a couple minutes later and sent both teams into the locker rooms for the half with Sale Creek leading 15 – 12.

Sebastian Baliles races down the sideline for the Cougars. Photo by DJ Underwood

       After a great performance by the Copper Basin marching band and some time for adjustments, both teams made their way back to their sidelines and the battle was resumed. Each team would continue to make gains but the other defenses would finally make a stand and get the ball back. Sebastian Baliles would eventually make a huge run for the Cougars and get them within the 10 yard line. On the following play, Boggs would smash his way into the end zone behind a big push from his offensive linemen and score on the keep. Continuing with the momentum, Boggs then keeps again on the two-point conversion and flies over the top of his big men to add two to the tally. This put the Red and Grey up 20 – 15 over Sale Creek with 7:01 left in the third. Sale Creek then took to the field in hopes of returning the favor to the Cougars but their drive was thwarted when defensive end Kade Foster was able to get pressure on the Panthers quarterback and tip a pass that was then intercepted by Joe Boggs. After a short return it was Cougars ball. The Cougars moved the ball but were not able to capitalize off of the interception and ended heading back out on defense without tacking any more points up.

       It would be the 4th quarter before either team would once again find paydirt. This would be by Sale Creek and after a stopped attempt at the two point conversion, the Panthers would go back up again 21 – 20. The Panthers would then send a short squibbed kickoff to the second line of Basin’s return team, and this is where the game would take its final turn. With the short kick taking an awkward bounce, Basin’s return man would not get a clean grab at the ball. It would bounce off of them and before he could get his hands back on it the eager Panthers were there to claim the bobbled ball as theirs. Sale Creek’s offense came back onto the field and had no intentions of letting this opportunity slip through their fingers. After a series of attacks the Panthers crossed the zero line again. The extra point made the score Sale Creek 28 to Copper Basin 20. The Cougars came back out with guns blazing but were eventually stopped after a fourth down pass was narrowly missed. The Panthers would score once more to seal their win and would head home with a victory following a hard fought battle between both teams. The final score was Sale Creek 34 – Copper Basin 20.

       The Cougars came out and were ready to go to battle. However, the three weeks off seemed to hurt them slightly with their gas tanks. They were unable to practice for two of the three weeks between contests and that is difficult for any team to overcome. Aside from the issues that Basin faced with cramps and trying to get back into a mid-season flow, they showed up and played well. The offense has begun to gel and find their groove. They are able to attack on the ground and in the air and dynamically with both. Sebastian Baliles looked great on the ground. Not only did he break a couple of big runs, he was also able to gain a plethora of yards after first contact. The offensive and defensive sides of the ball were both physical and ready to go. The biggest contributor to the evening for the Cougars, however, was quarterback and middle linebacker Joe Boggs. Boggs not only threw for two touchdowns and rushed for one, along with a two point conversion, he also accrued 9 solo tackles, 3 assisted tackles, and an interception. Boggs seemed to finally come into his own and was the leader the Cougars needed on both sides of the ball.

       Your Copper Basin Cougars will head across the mountain next week to battle the Bears of Tellico Plains at their den. Kickoff is scheduled for 7:30 pm. Head up, stop by the Pork Palace, grab a pork sandwich, and settle in to watch the contest between these two long-time adversaries.