Cougars leave the pillows in Draft

FISHERSVILLE — Wilson coach Derek McDaniel wasn’t a bit surprised.
“Stuarts Draft didn’t do anything that we didn’t expect them to do,” he said after a 48-13 thrashing at the hands of the Cougars.
“They just pounded us and pounded us and pounded us…”
The Cougars controlled both sides of the line of scrimmage, didn’t need to punt and won the takeaway battle.
And a young cub by the name of Travis Shifflett stole the show.
He pummeled Wilson for a whopping 219 yards on 22 carries and four touchdowns.  He out gained the Green Hornets by himself as Wilson managed just 209 yards of total offense.
The aw-shucks-boy-from-next-door was giving all the credit to his O line and Draft coach Rod Bowers followed suit.
“We lost a lot of kids from last year,” Bowers said.  “I’m proud of the way the kids on that offensive line stepped up.”
They needed to, especially after an uninspired loss to Broadway last week.
“We were like a soft pillow [against Broadway],” Bowers said noting that the Cougars did not have a great week of practice.  “We didn’t have any courage,” he said.
But this week was different.  The Cougars — who bought into the Bowers system full tilt last season — got their act together.
“We found some courage tonight,” Bowers said.  “There are some things that we did well but there are still a lot of things we need to work on,” he said.
The Cougars went after sophomore quarterback Jake Bailey, putting pressure on the first-year starter.  Bailey did toss an interception, but also found senior Sean Sullivan for his first touchdown of the year.  Bailey’s timing was off and several of his throws were dropped.  He was one of the bright spots on the Wilson side of the field.
But the night belonged to the Cougars and to Shifflett.  And if they continue to follow Bower’s example, another trip to the post-season is within their reach.
They just have to leave the pillows behind.