FOOTBALL: Durant 44, Blake 6

Though streaks of lightning delayed Durant’s preseason game, the Cougars still rolled like thunder.

Durant flexed its offensive and defensive muscles in a 44-6 win over the Blake Yellow Jackets, though the action didn’t pick up until after the weather forced the game to a halt. The Cougars finished the first quarter with a 6-0 lead thanks to Agiye Hall’s first of three touchdown grabs, this time making the catch well over a Blake defender’s head at the 8:45 mark, and the weather delay came into effect early in the second quarter.

After the delay, Durant came out swinging. After a Blake fumble recovery touchdown was called back on a penalty, the Cougars forced a turnover on downs deep in their own territory and running back Cameron Myers found the end zone on a long play just over a minute later at the 4:28 mark. The Cougars were able to play the final drive of the half, which ended with a 78-yard touchdown pass from Carlton Potter to Hall as time expired. The score held at 18-0 as the point-after attempt was blocked.

The Cougars pounced on a bad Blake snap for a fumble recovery at 10:17 in the third quarter and would have had another Cam Myers rushing touchdown on the ensuing play if not for an offensive holding call. Three and a half minutes later, the Cougars’ drive found the end zone as fullback David Tabakovic punched in the first of his two touchdowns.

Hall caught his final touchdown pass at the 3:04 mark, this time going for 33 yards, and it was on this drive that Durant nailed its first PAT kick of the night — backup kicker Kelly Kash stepped up for her first in-game kick as a Cougar and delivered, putting the score at 31-0.

Blake opened the fourth quarter with its only successful drive of the game, working its way into Durant territory and scoring on a short touchdown pass at the 9:40 mark. Its own two-point conversion attempt failed, though, and the Yellow Jackets were stuck with six points.

Durant picked up two more touchdowns on the ground before the game ended, with Tyrhon Brooks going for a 15-yard score with 4:31 to play and Tabakovic scoring on a 12-yard run with 2:37 to play. Tabakovic’s touchdown and the successful PAT brought about a 44-6 final score and a running clock.

In other area action, Plant City's offense was hot in a 21-0 win over Spoto and the Strawberry Crest Chargers tasted preseason victory with a 13-7 win over Seminole.