By Brian Bateman Tribune-Herald staff writer

Saturday, October 03, 2009

Reicher never let Bosqueville quarterback Cody Feight rest, sacking him four times and rushing his throws on almost every down. That would prove the difference, as the Cougar defense led Reicher to a 29-14 win over Bosqueville.

“We really haven’t shown our blitz scheme until tonight,” Reicher coach Mark Waggoner said. “The other stuff wasn’t working too well.” Feight did manage close to his average passing with 189 yards, but struggled to have time to set and throw. When he did, he connected for large gains, but when he didn’t, he or his pass fell to the turf.

“Cody made some passes and prayers for us that fortunately worked out for us. It’s just hard when you don’t have that speed,” Bosqueville coach Clint Zander said. “They get that kind of pressure on you and it’s difficult to make any passes.”

The Bulldogs (4-2) started their first serious drive at the 8:13 mark in the second half down 15-0, but were forced to call a timeout with the clock winding down on a third-and-nine play.

Waggoner used that timeout to orchestrate a strongside blitz, which drilled Feight to the turf.

The Cougars (3-3) responded quickly. On third and 12, quarterback Matt Hicks found Josh Wrzesinski open at midfield and completed the pass, but then a Bulldog defensive back managed to pop the ball free. Wrzesinski juggled the loose ball, cradled it in his left arm and then used his right to sweep away an arm tackle. A few chalk lines later and the Cougar gave his team a 22-0 lead.

Hicks led the Cougars through the first half. The senior had an 82-yard touchdown pass, a 6-yard scoring run and a 52-yard scramble that set up running back Isaac Gonzales's 1-yard plunge. He would finish the night with a passing touchdown and two rushing scores on 197 yards rushing.

Feight fought back. After a squib kick that gave Bosqueville possession at the Reicher 46, the senior quarterback drove the Bulldogs to the end zone, with help from a few defensive penalties. On second and goal, he connected with running back Shane Boen in the flat for their first score.

The half didn’t end there. Cougar quarterback Hicks threw a deep pass to a well-covered Wzresinski, but the receiver pulled down the pass and raced 35 more yards for a touchdown. However, the officials called him for offensive pass interference, and Hicks took a knee to end the half.

Momentum swung in the third quarter, though. “It was just offensive execution. We started blocking up front (in the second half) and started moving the ball. Then the defense was able to get some stops for us.” Feight did find Hunter Perry open in the end zone for an 18-yard touchdown, helping the Bulldogs crawl back to a one-possession game at 22-14.

With the momentum turning late in the third quarter, Reicher had back-to-back mental lapses, resulting in a first-and-25 from deep in its own territory.

“We must have had 5,000 yards of penalties tonight,” Waggoner said. “I think penalties killed us.” The Cougars had 14 penalties for 213 yards.

With the down marker flipped to third and long, Hicks looked downfield for a receiver but found Bulldog Joel Wymore. The sophomore defensive back brought the ball back into Reicher territory, and all looked in Bosqueville’s favor heading into the fourth quarter. Then Feight threw the second interception to Rami Tamimi in less than a minute of game time.

Both squads would trade three-and-outs for the majority of the fourth quarter — two drives stalling on third-down bad snaps. The Cougars would finish the game after a 30-yard punt return by Josh Sais— followed by a block in the back call — set the Cougars on the outskirts of a possible Andrew Hostak field goal. They wouldn’t need it, though, as Hicks stretched for the end zone for a 3-yard touchdown, effectively ending the game with 1:35 remaining.