TAMPA — Gaither dominated the line of scrimmage on both sides of the ball en route to a victory. The Cougars were without quarterback Erick Davis and unable to muster much offense after falling behind 13-0. Meanwhile, the Cowboys (3-2) gained chunks of yards on several sustained drives.
Key drive: With the score 0-0 early in the second quarter, Gaither pinned Durant on its 6 and forced a short punt. The Cowboys then went on a five-play drive capped by an 11-yard touchdown run by Copeland Hargrove.
Play of the game: With Gaither (3-2) up 13-7 in the fourth quarter, Corey Hobson drilled a 52-yard field goal. The kick cleared the crossbar with several yards to spare.
Stars of the game: Gaither’s offensive line consistently opened holes for Curtis Wilder (73 yards), Malik Huff (79 yards, touchdown), and Hargrove (45 yards, touchdown). Decalon Brooks added a touchdown on offense and chipped in with big tackles on defense.
Final word: “I told our kids if we could play as physical as them, we could win. We always talk about finding a way. Tonight, we found a way, and I’m happy for our kids.” — Gaither coach Jason Stokes