Cougars kick off 2024 season with big win
The Rosebud-Lott Cougars opened their season with a bang on Friday night, getting a 42-0 win over the Florence Buffaloes.
Rosebud-Lott started the game lightning fast with a 28-0 start in the first quarter and never looked back.
“We knew based on what they do defensively that they were going to have to pick and choose what they wanted to give up,” Said Coach Brandon Hicks. “They decided to load the box and bring the pressure and that left a lot of man to man coverage. We were confident our receivers could win those one on ones, and they were able to win those one on ones, which causes fast strikes.”
The Cougars entered halftime with a 35-0 lead after a 19-yard touchdown pass from Pryce Rabroker to Marcellis Cummings. The third quarter was scoreless with Rosebud-Lott still in command 35-0. The Cougars scored their only points of the fourth quarter on a 64 yard touchdown pass from Pryce Rabroker to Carson Kahlig to make the score 42-0. Rosebud-Lott also continued their shutdown defense throughout the second half.
“You got to trust your depth,” Said Coach Hicks. “We wanted to be able to roll some guys in. We had seven different freshmen on the field tonight, which is unheard of. But at the same time, those guys need experience and (to) be able to grow. So, you got to resist the temptation to put your starters back in and trust those guys, and we have trust in everybody that suited up tonight.”
They allowed only eight receiving yards, 127 rushing yards, and forced two fumbles. Florence only had one true chance to get on the scoreboard during the third quarter, but fumbled in the red zone and the Cougars recovered the ball to end their chance on the turnover.
“That was huge,” Hicks said. “As a team defensively, you don’t get a lot of attention. So, when you have an opportunity to put up a shutout, that’s something you want to hold in tact. Our guys were able to do that, and that was a lot of guys who didn’t start the game and hadn’t been in the first half. For them to bend and not break was fantastic. I was really pleased to see that.”
On offense, Bo McGinniss was productive, catching three passes for 37 yards and a touchdown and Zaylon Wells ran a great game with 55 yards rushing. The biggest x-factor was the combo of Pryce Rabroker to Carson Kahlig. Those two connected for a whopping 210 yards and four touchdowns.
“Those two have been working together for two years now,” Hicks said. “Every day and during the summer they’re staying late and they get that extra work, so they’re able to read each other very well. So, that’s been something coming for a while.”
Up next, the Cougars will travel to take on the Thrall Tigers. Coach Hicks believes it will not be an easy task, but they will be ready for the challenge.
“They’re going to make plays, so we’ve got to know that going in that they’re going to make plays,” Hicks. “They have a very good dual threat quarterback who’s electric and he’s a senior. He’s going to make plays with his legs, he’s going to make them with his arm. It will kind of be the polar opposite of what we saw tonight with the slot T. Facing a dual threat spreading out, they’re going to go five wide at times. With the young group we have, we have to understand that we’re going to make mistakes, and that not every game is going to be 42-0. So you’ve got to learn to be able to handle that adversity and bounce back and play the next play.”
The game will be Friday, Sept. 6, in Thrall and kickoff is set for 7:30 p.m.