Karma Comes Back to Hurt Cougars

It’s often said that what goes around comes around. The Cougars of Colts Neck High School learned that lesson the hard way, with a home opener 21-6 loss against Southern Regional, the same score of their victor last week against Long Branch. 

On the team’s first offensive play from scrimmage, quarterback Dan Higgins launched a 43-yard bomb to wide receiver Alec Morris. While Colts Neck forced a punt on that drive and ended the first quarter knotted at zero points apiece, the scoreless game didn’t last long.

On Southern’s first drive of the second quarter, Higgins and Morris connected again, this time on an eight-yard reception for a touchdown. With the game set at 7-0 at the half, Colts Neck led the third quarter with a recovered onside kick. Unfortunately for the Cougars, their productive drive would end in failure, as senior quarterback Dylan Cottrell would throw a red zone interception, his first of three, to set up another Rams touchdown.

In spite of Cottrell’s three picks, the senior completed 17 of 26 passes and scored the Cougars’ lone touchdown, converting on a run from 14 yards out.

While Cottrell’s rush was the Cougars’ only score of the game, it was hardly the team’s only highlight. Senior running back Vic Scalisi provided several of those, rushing for 84 yards on 16 attempts.

After the loss, Colts Neck now finds themselves at .500 heading into their second away game of the season. On Sept. 24, the Cougars will travel to Monmouth Regional where they’ll take on the rival Falcons.