Tamarac Cougars outlast Creek in six-overtime showdown
Tamarac Cougars 9-Under Division coach Johnny Brown and his players were truly weekend warriors after being extended to six overtimes in a recent 12-6 American Youth Football League victory over the Coconut Creek Eagles at the Tamarac Sports Complex.
During regulation time, Cougars defensive back Donte Findeson scored the first touchdown on a fumble recovery in the end zone to tie the score at 6-6. The nine-year-old from Mirror Lake Elementary School was the defensive star of the game as he added three interceptions to an outstanding performance.
Findeson is a versatile player who can line up as a running back or wide-receiver on offense, and then switch over to the defensive side of the ball to cornerback, safety or linebacker.
“I got my interceptions from the safety position,” Findeson said. “On the fumble recovery … my teammate hit the quarterback causing the fumble and I jumped on the ball. It felt great. Playing six overtimes was tiring, but I never quit.”
In the Kansas tiebreaker overtime session, each team had an opportunity to score from the 10-yard line. Both the Cougars and Eagles defenses then put on a show to end all shows as over five possessions those units refused to let the opposing offense cross over into the end zone.
Finally, in the sixth overtime, the Tamarac warriors turned to their quarterback Jaden Joselin to end the defensive masterpiece.
Joselin pounded ahead from six yards out to break the deadlock and then it was up to the Cougars defense to hold onto the precarious 12-6 lead. On fourth down, the Cougars defense came up big one more time, stopping the Eagles ball carrier inches from the goal line.
The exciting conclusion had both sidelines experiencing up and down emotions like a roller coaster.
Joselin, who also plays the running back, cornerback and outside linebacker positions, joined his teammates in a wild celebration after the marathon wing. The North Lauderdale resident attends Coral Park Elementary School.
“Today’s game was awesome. I have to give the Oline [offensive line] props because they helped me with their blocking when I was under center,” Joselin said. “We never gave up. On defense, my teammates made some key plays with big stops.”
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Futurevest@aol.com — Jaden Joselin, Tamarac Cougars quarterback