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Football: Pinellas Park 35, Countryside 0

 
Published Oct. 1, 2016

COUNTRYSIDE — Kenny Crawford didn't want a repeat, and neither did his players.

After leading Countryside for much of last year's district battle, Pinellas Park's coach saw his squad's advantage disappear in an eventual 31-30 overtime setback that knocked the Patriots out of a playoff berth.

This year, Pinellas Park ruined the Cougars' Homecoming with a near-perfect ground game and a defense bent on timely stops to roll to a 35-0 victory.

Key drives: Pick one. Pinellas Park (4-0, 1-0 Class 7A, District 10) opened the game with a 12-play, 87-yard drive to start its scoring on Torrence Andrews' 24-yard run. Next was a 10-play, 70-yard possession capped by Ethan Blanchard's 4-yard run for six, then a nine-play, 90-yard march ended on Andrews' brilliant grab of Zamari Maxwell's pass for a 25-yard TD. And in the second half, the Patriots started a running clock with Blanchard's broken-field 33-yard TD run wrapping up a 94-yard, nine-play drive.

Stars of the game: Pinellas Park's offensive line — guards Robert Roman and Zachary Koehler, tackles Tyler Adams and Daniel Connolly, and center Noah Kidd — allowed a cadre of Patriot ball carriers to ramble for 374 rushing yards, averaging more than 8 yards per carry and 424 yards of total offense. Adams is the only senior on the front five. … Rodney Sivils blocked a 40-yard field goal attempt that was the lone scoring chance for Countryside (3-2, 1-1). …Ma'kel Calhoun (six tackles, sack) led a Patriot defense that held the Cougars to 184 offensive yards.

Stats of the game: Blanchard rushed for 84 yards on nine carries while Andrews contributed 83 yards of total offense. … Physical fullback Azyia Vance rolled up 77 yards on 11 carries and Dale Foster added a 21-yard TD as part of his 48-yard night. … Countryside junior Peyton Xayasone was a defensive force with a game-high 12 tackles.

Final word I: "This week, we put in the most work we ever have. We just had to do it for Coach Crawford. This game meant a lot to him, so we put it on the line for him." — Roman

Final word II: "He's a beast. He's a beast. He pulls and blocks like a madman." — Crawford on Roman