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The Cougars beat Citizens Christian Academy 35-8 in the team’s second game at home.

Junior running back/linebacker Noah Smith made his presence known early. He opened the scoring with a receiving touchdown from junior quarterback Owen Earnest. Smith played defense in the ensuing drive and made an interception. 

Maximum effort, maximum intensity,” Head coach Richard McClure said. “He brings that when he plays. When you play like that, that’s the kind of impact you can have.”

Smith would get injured during the game and be unable to return. 

The game was quiet until Earnest scored a fourth down rushing touchdown in the middle of the second quarter. 

Junior wide receiver Cade Wells added to the Cougars’ TD count with a receiving touchdown with less than a minute on the clock. The Cougars ran a fake field goal during the extra-point attempt. Earnest completed a 2-point conversion through the air to junior running back Preston Barnett.

The Cougar defense shut the Patriots out in the first quarter and kept the Patriots scoreless until less than 20 seconds were left in the half. Eighth-grader Paxton Sapp recovered a fumble in the second quarter, bringing the Cougars’ turnover count to two.

The Cougars shut the Patriots out in the second half.

“It’s just about playing assignment ball,” McClure said. “When guys are doing their job, doing their responsibilities, good things will happen.”

Earnest opened the second half with another fourth-down touchdown run. The quarterback found the endzone after a long scramble. He connected with Barnett for another fake field goal 2-point conversion on the point after attempt. Earnest scored four total touchdowns, two through the air and two on the ground. 

Barnett scored next for the Cougars with a rushing touchdown inside the five-yard line.

The game ended quickly with a running eight-minute clock in the fourth quarter due to mercy rule guidelines.