SPRINGFIELD: For two weeks, Springfield Delco Sr RB-LB Mike Dougherty has battled an ankle injury that has kept him limited in his offensive role for the Cougars. On Friday night Dougherty only got one carry but he made the most of it. He plunged in from six yards out to cap an unlikely comeback for his Cougars. The 33-27 overtime victory highlighted the Harriton Rams, who saw a 27-7 third quarter slip away.
“That boy (Dougherty)has more heart in him than any kid I ever coached,” Cougars head coach Tom Kline said after game. He added that once the game went to overtime he was the first kid he looked to. Dougherty said it doesn’t matter who gets the bulk of the carries. “It’s the team, not me” he said. Dougherty also added that he’s ready whenever he is called upon.
Dougherty’s lone carry came on the Cougars second play of overtime and came after the Cougars forced the Rams to a three and out in the first series in overtime.
The Cougars took the opening kickoff and drove right down the field and scored on an 15 yard touchdown run by QB Cam Durham. The Rams then came right back and answered the Cougars score with a 66 yard touchdown pass from Division 1 prospect Pat Moriarty to Juwan Valentine. Nick Apostolu got a hand on the the extra point attempt giving the Cougars the slim 7-6 lead.
Then Moriarty took over throwing two more touchdown passes one to Valentine from 20 yards out and one to Desmond Davis from nine yards out to give the Rams the 20-7 halftime lead.
On the first series of the second half Moriarty continued where he left off in the first half again finding Valentine this time from six yards out to give the Rams the 27-7 lead with 8:23 left in the third. Moriarty finished the game 14 of 26 for 236 yards but he was just one for 10 for 0 yards after his last touchdown.
With their defense starting to produce three and outs, the Cougars offense went to work gaining 241 yards in the second half. Barry Foster started the comeback with his two yard touchdown run with 1:43 left in the third to cut the Rams lead down to 27-14.
In the fourth quarter the Cougars turned to one of their backfield threats in Rob Murphy. Murphy responded with a 16 yard touchdown that cut the lead down to 27-20 after the Rams were able to get a hand on Brad Lord’s extra point attempt.
After another three and out the Cougars took over with 3:33 left and 68 yards to go to possibly send the game into overtime. And that’s what the Cougars did almost exclusivly on the ground and with 1:23 left in regulation Murphy again with help from his line and Foster danced his way in to the end-zone to pull the Cougars to within 1 at 27-26 and to send the Cougars sideline and supporters into a frenzy.
The Cougars (1-1 overal,1-0 in Central League) look to continue their winning ways Saturday afternoon when they travel to Lower Merion to take on the Aces. While the Rams (1-1,0-1) will look to get back into their winning ways when they host the 0-2 Radnor Red Raiders on Friday night
