Bowers proud despite loss

STUARTS DRAFT — As the final whistle blew on Friday night, Stuarts Draft coach Rod Bowers looked at the final score of 58-31 in favor of the Blue Streaks and completely disregarded the 27-point defeat.

Bowers told his team in the post game huddle that they played Cougar football and repeatedly told his team that he was proud of the way they left everything they had on the field.

“Our kids gave everything they had tonight. I can’t get mad or upset with the kids because they left everything on the field,” Bowers said. “Our kids played with so much pride. The scoreboard doesn’t really tell how we played tonight.”

Things started off rough for the Cougars when Donte Fitz-Sloan took the opening kickoff for a touchdown to give the Blue Streaks the early lead.

The Cougars got a 30-yard field goal from Jeff Wilson on their possession to cut the lead to 7-3, but then the Michael Holmes show began.

Holmes had two first-half touchdown runs of 56 and 37-yards to pace the Streaks. DJ Hines kept Draft in the game with his hard-nosed running style as he pushed the Streaks’ defense around all night.

“Our guys really played hard on every play. The thing a lot of people don’t know is that we have been trying to piece together an offense all week,” said Bowers. “Our offense did a great job at moving the ball all night and I think we have to continue that to finish out the year.”

Cole Beyler had the lone first half touchdown for the Cougars on a one-yard run up the middle. Draft went into the half trailing by only eight at 23-15.

In the second half Holmes ran for three more scores of 29,62,and 67-yards to give him a grand total of five for the game.

“[Michael] Holmes is an exceptional athlete. The entire Harrisonburg team has great athletes,” Bowers said. “Holmes does this to every team he faces. If it was just us that he was running all over then I would be worried.”

Beyler added his second score of the game on a 5-yard run and Hines picked up a TD on a 5-yard scamper.

The Cougars (2-5, 1-1 Southern Valley) will play host to Wilson Memorial next Friday.