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Cougars unveil season to remember on gridiron

in the redzone

Shaun Scott

The Cascade Christian Cougars may have come up short on the scoreboard against the Connell Eagles in the Class 1A football state championship game but they showed the entire state how formidable of a football program they are.

Even though they lost for the second consecutive year in the state finale, the Cougars have nothing to hang their heads about: The performance they turned in during the 2009 season was nothing short of remarkable. After losing a multitude of starters off their 2008 team there weren’t many people who believed the Cougars could win a league championship, let alone advance to the state tournament.

The Cougs proved the naysayers wrong.

They won the games they were supposed to win and captured victory in other contests where few expected them to be victorious. Arguably the Cougs most crowning achievement of the 2009 season was its triumph against Montesano in the Class 1A quarterfinals. Montesano was ranked No. 1 in the state before the Cougs knocked them off their perch.

Quarterback Kyle Stennes dazzled the Cascade Christian faithful in his first year as the Cougs signal caller. Stennes will return in 2010 with a year of valuable experience under his belt heading into his senior season. Pass catcher Jake Archer will take over the No. 1 receiver role due to the graduation of Cody Creech. The strength of the team may be at the running back position where Brendan Ossman and Colton Faverty will return to the fold as senior leaders. Faverty is a battering ram and reminds me of former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Jerome Bettis when he carries the ball. Ossman’s smooth running style makes it hard for Cougs’ opponents to stop in between the tackles.

Don’t be surprised when the Cougars dominate the Nisqually League again next season.

The program put together by head coach Randy Davis and his hardworking staff of assistants isn’t going anywhere. They are officially a football powerhouse in Washington.

I fully expect to see the Cougars back at the Tacoma Dome in December of 2010.

Reach Sports Editor Shaun Scott at 253-841-2481 ext. 316 or by e-mail at shaun.scott@puyallupherald.com.