Football: Countryside 21, Clearwater 6

CLEARWATER — The night belonged to the team that had success  in the red zone. Countryside picked up  two Diomi Roberts 1-yard scores,  while Clearwater struggled to capitalize as the Cougars earned a  21-6 victory Friday.

The teams battled in the first half with neither gaining much ground. Quarterback Gray Crow threw an interception in the end zone on Countryside’s first possession. A couple plays later, the Cougars’ Terry Johnson blasted Clearwater quarterback Ryan Hagen while

Hagen ran an option play and Hagen did  not return.

A 28-yard pass  from Crow to Nico Morgado set up Countryside’s lone first-half touchdown when  Roberts forced his way in from 1-yard out.

“We were slacking at first on offense, but we picked it up toward the end,” said Countryside’s Terry Johnson.
Robert Yarbrough filled in nicely for  Hagen, but the offense sputtered in the red zone. A  cut block penalty followed by a fumble kept the Tornadoes scoreless in the first half.

Crow threw another interception, allowing Clearwater in the red zone again. Yarbrough gave it right back with an interception .
Countryside (6-0, 2-0) came out strong in the second half, running  six times and ending in  Johnson’s 1-yard touchdown.  

“We had to continue to wear them down,” said Countryside coach Jared Davis. “We put it on them and we told our kids we were going to be physical.”

Clearwater (4-2, 0-2) answered with  a screen  to Bennie Niles, who ran  34 yards  to the Countryside 7.  Yarbrough threw a 15-yard touchdown  to Jon Hogan to cut the  lead to 14-6 .

Countryside put it away when Roberts scampered 33 yards and set up his second touchdown two plays later.
 

Teams in post

• Clearwater High School
• Countryside High School