Coming off a huge season-opening win over Amite School Center, the Columbia Academy Cougars fell to 1-1 on the season Friday night with a heart-breaking 13-6 loss at Silliman Institute.
First-year head coach TC Chambliss said the hard-fought game came down to CA’s mistakes and mental errors, but he couldn’t ask any more out of the Cougars when it comes to their effort.
“We have a lot of things we have to look ourselves in the mirror and fix,” he said. “I just think the guys are not used to being in tight games like this. It’s something that, as we continue to change our culture, we have to get used to being in this type of ball games and being used to playing with the big boys.”
After rushing for more than 400 yards and six touchdowns in their season-opening win over Amite School Center, the Cougars were held to just 96 yards and a touchdown on 34 carries (2.8 yards per carry) against Silliman. Chambliss said the offensive line didn’t play bad, but on just about every single play there was a block here or there that was missed and that’s all it takes to blow up a play.
While the offense wasn’t productive, the Cougars defense played perhaps its best games in several years. CA intercepted four passes and held the Wildcats scoreless several times in the red zone.
“Our defense played lights out,” Chambliss said. “Thinking back to all of the games I’ve been a part of, I’d be hard pressed to find a game that stood out defensively the way this one did. That was phenomenal. They gave us every opportunity to get back in that thing and try to win it. That was absolutely a special effort.”
Silliman was knocking on the door on its second drive, reaching the CA 12-yard line, but Cougars middle linebacker Jacob Reid made a tremendous play to end the threat and get the ball back. He dropped into a hook zone then made a full-extension interception at the goal line and set the Cougars up at their own 25 with his return. But on the very next play, CA fullback Kris Ginn, fresh off a 282-yard, four-touchdown game, had the ball punched out, and SIlliman recovered it. Then the Cougars got it right back a few plays later as Silliman’s quarterback had the ball squirt out of his hand as he attempted to throw, and Dakota Breeland fell on the loose ball.
It would be for naught, though, as the Cougars were stuffed on fourth-and-5, setting the Wildcats up in prime field position at the CA 32. Yet again, with its back against the wall, the CA defense made a huge play. Linebacker Landon McNabb undercut a crossing route on fourth down and came up with CA’s second interception of the first half. However, CA was immediately stuffed going for it on fourth down again, gifting Silliman with great field position a third time. And for a third time, the defense bailed the Cougars out of a hole as Dillon Rowley picked up interception No. 3 for CA on an overthrown deep ball.
Chambliss then took another big gamble that didn’t pay off. Following a false start penalty that made it 4th-and-13 on CA’s own 33, he went for it again, but a pass from Cole Fortenberry to Reid gained just six yards to give the ball back to Silliman. The persistent gambling of Chambliss and the Cougars finally caught up to them this time with the Wildcats finding the end zone on an 8-yard pass over the middle. Silliman drilled the extra point to go up 7-0 midway through the second quarter.
Chambliss said he saw some things with Silliman’s defense he believed the Cougars could take advantage of, which was a big reason why he went for it on fourth down three times in their own territory. He added defensive coordinator Keith Stanley was completely on board with the calls with the way the defense was playing.
“I just wanted to get some positive momentum going on offense and give our guys some confidence,” he said. “We wanted to keep our defense off the field for a little while. We just couldn’t get out of our own way to get that momentum going.”
CA’s ensuing drive started off promising as Fortenberry found a streaking Carter Rowell for an 18-yard gain. But back-to-back false starts and a short Ginn run had the Cougars facing a third-and-18 and an obvious passing situation. Fortenberry tried to connect with Rowell again, this time on an in route, but the ball went through Rowell’s hands and into the waiting arms of Silliman’s free safety.
The Wildcats proceeded to reach the CA 35, but on a fourth-down pass, the Cougars picked up their fourth interception of the game as Beard came up with the pick just before halftime.
To open the second half, Beard got the Cougars into Silliman territory for the first time with an explosive 45-yard kickoff return. A sack quickly brought up fourth down for CA, who once again went for it. The Cougars had a potential touchdown drawn up with Ginn running a seam route out of the backfield, and had he caught it, he would’ve had just one man to beat in the open field. But Ginn didn’t get his head around quick enough as the on-target pass from Fortenberry hit Ginn in the shoulder before he could get his hands up.
Silliman immediately made the Cougars pay for the miscue, tossing a 55-yard touchdown on the very next play that gave the Wildcats a 13-0 lead over CA.
On the ensuing drive, following Reid and Jackson Speir each having a pair of solid gains, Ginn finally found some running room to put the Cougars on the board. The 220-pound back had just 17 yards on nine carries, with his longest run being three yards, before cutting back through a massive hole for a 29-yard touchdown. While Ginn’s run was impressive, it was actually all due to the blocking of the left side of the offensive line, particularly left tackle Noah Branch and Reid (tight end). They double teamed the end and drove him back 15 yards off the ball, opening the cutback lane for Ginn. The Cougars were stopped on the two-point conversion, keeping the game at 13-6.
Silliman took its next drive into CA territory, but Cougars linebacker Sam Mitchell blew up a fourth down run in the backfield to get the ball back for CA. Following a 31-yard pass to Speir and Fortenberry converting a fourth down, the Cougars were in great position to either tie it up or take the lead with the ball on the Silliman 5. However, on second-and-goal, Caleb King was dropped for a 5-yard loss on a speed sweep, forcing CA to have to throw it. Fortenberry’s third-down throw was a failed trick play that hit right tackle Nick Reagan, who was eligible on the play as he lined up out wide, square in the chest, but the big man wasn’t looking for the ball. Then a waggle pass on fourth down sailed way out of bounds, ending CA’s golden opportunity.
CA would get another crack at it, though, after forcing a punt and getting the ball back at its own 7 with 4:27 remaining in the fourth quarter. The Cougars only picked up five yards, though, and quickly turned it over on downs. Despite the Wildcats having a golden opportunity to effectively end the game, beginning their drive at the CA 12, the Cougars defense again stepped up big time. On back-to-back plays, Breeland and Mitchell laid big hits, both as tackles for loss, to force a turnover on downs and give CA the ball back with 1:27 remaining.
Ultimately, CA didn’t have the firepower to put together a 90-yard drive as Fortenberry was picked off on a desperation deep ball to end the game.
The Cougars will play at East Rankin Academy (0-0) Friday at 7 p.m.
