It was Friday night under the lights.  The home side bleachers were packed with burgundy and gold clad fans ringing their cow bells.  The fall air was crisp and cool and the 7-0 Oakton Cougars were putting their undefeated season on the line with the mighty Robinson Rams hungry for an upset and revenge for last year’s drubbing at the hands of the Cougars.

The Cougars knew they would get Robinson’s best shot so they didn’t waste any time putting points on the scoreboard.  On the sixth play from scrimmage, Jonathon Meadows took a handoff and followed Austin Mayhew around left end.  Mayhew’s block wiped out two would-be Robinson tacklers and that is all Meadows needed to sprint 45 yards untouched for the touchdown.  The point-after kick was missed.  Oakton 6 - Robinson 0.

As they have done so often all year, the tough Cougar defense held Robinson to three plays and out on the Ram’s first possession forcing a punt.  The Cougar offense took over and drove the ball to the Robinson 7 yard line before stalling.  Coach Thompson called on Ray Goins to kick a field goal of 24 yards which he did perfectly to make the score Oakton 9 – Robinson 0.

Robinson would get it going midway through the second quarter. A long touchdown pass play put the Rams on the scoreboard, Oakton 9 – Robinson 7.  A fired-up Ram defense forced a Cougar punt giving the ball back to their offense.  Robinson came out passing again and connected on another bomb to the Oakton 1 yard line.  The Rams scored on the next play.  Robinson 14 – Oakton 9.  With the momentum now clearly with the Rams, Robinson kicked off forcing an Oakton fumble giving the ball right back to the Rams at the Oakton 15 yard line.  Robinson scored yet again with 24 seconds left on the clock.  Robinson 21 – Oakton 9.  The Cougars would get the ball one last time before the half.  Not to be outdone and with that never give up attitude, Chris Coyer came in and on the final play, dropped back and found Trey Watts a step behind the Rams defense and hit him in perfect stride for a 66 yard “Hail Mary” touchdown pass.  Goins kick was good and Oakton trailed at halftime 21 – 16. 

After some halftime discussions and adjustments, the Cougars would come out for the second half with renewed vigor.  The Oakton defense led by a Kevin Culkin sack and tackles by Jack Tyler held the Rams and forced a punt.  The Cougar offense would take over at their own 8 yard line.  A Chris Coyer pass to Wade Reynolds for 17 yards and Coyer runs of 18 and 43 yards quickly brought the ball to the Robinson 2 yard line.  Coyer called his own number one more time and ran untouched into the end zone behind strong blocks from Trevor Yarnall and Jonathon Meadows.  A two-point pass try fell incomplete and Oakton regained the lead at 22 – 21.  On the ensuing kickoff, the Cougar coverage team led by Elliot Olsuin, Sajan Moktan, and Dustin Gleich completely blew up the Ram return wedge and dropped the Robinson ball carrier in his tracks.  The Cougar defense, led this series by Tackles Anthony Porco and Scott Stangeby held Robinson to a 33 yard field goal.  A long run back by Trey Watts on the Robinson kickoff was negated by a penalty so Oakton would take over on their own 9 yard line.  Runs by Coyer, Watts, and Meadows and a nice pass reception by Wade Reynolds would get the ball deep into Robinson territory as the third period ended with Robinson on top, 24-22.  Chris Coyer opened the 4^th quarter with a beautiful 10-yard touchdown pass to Matt Chandler to climax a 91-yard scoring drive  Chandler dragged would-be Robinson tacklers the last 5 yards into the end zone.  Goins kick made the score 29-24 in an exciting back and forth game.  The Cougar defense forced a Ram fumble and Scott Stangeby alertly fell on the loose football giving the ball back to his offense at the Ram 27 yard line.  Sensing a momentum shift back to the Cougars, Chris Coyer dropped back on first down and found Trey Watts at the five yard line.  Watts, breaking tackles, finished the 28 yard pass and catch play for the touchdown. Goins kick made the score 36-24, Oakton.  Again the Cougars kicked off and again Elliot Olsuin would be a human battering ram, sacrificing his body to break up the Ram wedge and forcing another Ram fumble.  Only this time the Rams were able to recover and retain possession.  The Rams would not give up.  They drove down the field one more time and scored to cut the Cougar lead to 36-31 with 5:55 left in this shootout.  On the next Oakton possession, the Cougars took the ball to the Robinson 18 yard line before their drive stalled.  Coach Thompson sent out Ray Goins for a 26 yard field goal try.  However it appeared that the Cougar Coach pulled a fast one and called for a fake.  Ryan Harris took the snap and rose up from his holder position and threw a pass to Jonathon Meadows who ran over Ram tacklers at the 4 yard line into the end zone for the touchdown.  Goins kick made it 43-31, Oakton.  An Andrew Leonard interception in the end zone would end the game and give the Cougars their eighth win of the season.

For the evening, the Cougars had 271 yards rushing and 183 passing.  Chris Coyer led all rushers with 137 yards on 9 carries and 1 TD.  Jonathon Meadows added another 104 yards rushing on 12 carries and 1 TD.  Coyer was 10 for 15 passing for 179 yards and 3 TDs.  Trey Watts led the team in receptions with 6 for 118 yards and 2 TDs.  Wade Reynolds added another 41 receiving yards on 3 receptions.

 The Cougars take their 8-0 record on the road to Westfield next Friday at 7:30 with first place in the Concorde District on the line.