Boca Ciega High School Football Coach Wanted a Test

When first-year Boca Ciega football coach Antez Brinson walked onto the field at Countryside High School for his first game as a high school head coach, Brinson got what he wanted.

The result, however, was not what he wanted.

Countryside, one of the state's powerhouse programs with a deep roster stocked with Division-I talent, handed the Pirates a 35-17 loss.

Gray Crow, Countryside's Miami-bound quarterback, threw for a pair of long touchdowns and had 332 yards overall in the game.

Crow connected with Marrieo Taylor  and Ryan Yates on touchdowns of 69 and 55 yards.

But  this is what Brinson wanted. This was the test he literally asked for.

"We've been waiting a long time to get into a game that means something," Brinson said prior to the game. "We have had success in the spring game and the preseason game but this means something.

"We wanted to see what we had early," Brinson said. "Playoff implications, it won't hurt us but we will see where we are at. I want to see how we respond as a team, how will we respond when we are faced with adversity against a quality opponent. There will be ups and there will be downs. Are you going to wallow in your lows or are you going to pick each other up?"

The Pirates hung tight with Countryside, trailing just 14-10 at halftime and only 21-10 after three quarters.

But Countryside's depth likely took its toll on Boca Ciega. The Pirates have just about every starter playing on both sides of the ball whereas Countryside has few players playing both sides of the ball.

A pair of Cougar touchdowns in the fourth quarter sealed the Pirates' fate.

Brinson was OK with going up against perhaps the county's best team right off the bat.

"That's what I want," Brinson said. "I want to see where we are team-wise and character-wise against a quality opponent because there will be some adversity. This will help you get ready for a playoff run."