Cougars return favor to Mustangs
- Updated: September 23, 2017
2017 EAST COUNTY PREP FOOTBALL
STEELE CANYON 14, OTAY RANCH 13
By Dave Dickens
EastCountySports.com
CHULA VISTA (9-22- 2017) – The visiting Steele Canyon Cougars wanted this one, the energy on their sideline told the
story.
The host Otay Ranch Mustangs had plans of their own as the contest was underway.
The first quarter of play consisted of a pair of quick three and outs.
In the latter part of the first quarter, the Mustangs’ Gus Espisito walked into the end zone untouched, but not before the visitors stood their ground on that goal line, which would set the trend for the evening, once the Mustangs reached the red zone. The PAT was also successful, as the Mustangs led 7-0 with 49 seconds left in the first quarter of play.
If there were a player defining the word “athlete” it would have to be Cougars senior QB THOMAS FISHBURNE.
This kid never came off the field.
“Fish” played QB, punter, kicker, and even assisted the defense as a free safetyn, in which he made a few key stops that if he was not present could have ended up going for 60 yards.
The visiting Cougars would eventually get into the end zone, but not before junior MLB BILLY TELLOUS had a great read on the Mustang QB for an interception, which would lead to a 19-yd scramble for Fishburne and 6 points and a successful PAT, leaving the score 7-7.
The home team Mustangs would score yet again, but missing the PAT wide left, leaving the score 13-7 Mustangs at the intermission.
2nd quarter TD! #touchdown #FridayNightLights ✨ pic.twitter.com/7GqUUirjs5
— Steele Canyon HS (@SteeleCanyonHS1) September 23, 2017
The third quarter was a disaster for at least half of it.
There must have been at least 15 penalties on the Mustangs for false starts and at least 6 or more offside penalties.
“That is the first thing we are gonna work on cleaning up,” Steele Canyon coach SCOTT LONGERBONE said.
There were quite a few punts back and forth, until the waning minutes of the fourth quarter when there was an interception by senior TANNER EWERT for the Cougars.
A few offensive plays later, Fishburne came up with yet another spectacular strike to COLTON GUERERRO for a 17 yard TD and a successful PAT made it 14-13 with under 1:30 left in regulation.
The Mustangs’ drive stalled as the Cougars recovered a fumble with 45 seconds left to seal the deal 14-13 Cougars, putting this squad at 2-2 right back in the mix.
The Cougars have the PPR Alarm Assembly next week, as well as, Homecoming and a tough Mira Mesa team
to prepare for.
