Countryside High School football struggling to stop offenses
SAFETY HARBOR, Fla. — Countryside High School’s football team has been of interest to people throughout Safety Harbor and many other towns near the Clearwater area. The Cougars have started the 2021 season with a 2-3 record. The team did get a good start to the 6A District 9 part of the season, as the Cougars defeated River Ridge 36-28 to start the conference portion of the schedule. But the team is still dealing with plenty of challenges to compete.
The concern for the Cougars is that the team has given up a significantly greater number of points in its games so far this season than what it has scored. The Cougars have given up 195 points in its first five games. They have scored 95 points in those matches.
The Cougars have given up at least 30 points in three of their five games. The team lost to Boca Ciega 47-7, plus they lost to Clearwater 61-0. Countryside also surrendered a good number of points in their 42-32 season-opening win against Dunedin.
The team’s wins over Dunedin and River Ridge include more than 80 percent of the points the Cougars have scored so far this season. The two teams are among the weakest in the region, so it is no surprise that the Cougars would have done better against these clubs. But the challenge of trying to move forward has been tough for the team to manage.
To the Cougars’ credit, many of their opponents have dominant offenses. The Clearwater Tornadoes is one such example, with quarterback Aiden Maclean having nearly 1,000 passing yards in his first five games. The Boca Ciega Pirates are also performing well, with the team averaging more than 25 points per game so far this year.
An essential point to see about Countryside’s football team is that it features plenty of young players. The team has been trying to develop its players, as it has been focusing on many of its underclassmen. Freshman quarterback Dylan Nahra has been highly active and has completed nearly half of his passes, but he has nine interceptions versus one touchdown this season. Nahra hopes to develop his skills in the next few years.
The Cougars have focused mainly on their rushing efforts. While senior Jaden Griffin is the most prominent figure on the running side, freshman Terrance Jackson has also been active this year.
The Countryside Cougars are hoping to build upon this season and become more competitive in the next few years. The question at this point will entail looking at how well their defense can improve and if the team can stop giving up so many points in all their games.
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