Despite feeling like summer still, the start of football season signals that fall is around the corner. And on Tuesday evening, the North Cougars 8th Grade Football team took the field to start their season in style as they hosted the Wolves from Cross Timbers Middle School.

As the A teams fired up the action, the Cougars were HOT... and not just because of the temperature! Playing strong on defense, North bottled up the Wolves and gained control early. Darran Perry fired up the fans with his first touch of the game; turning a run around the right end into a TD to put the Cougars up 6-0. Later on in the half, it was deja vu as Perry once again found a gap and stretched the field all the way to the end zone to put North up 12-0. However, the Wolves found a way with a pass over the top to get on the board; making it 12-6 at the half. However, the Cougars didn't let that slow them down and stayed in control throughout the second half. QB Rylan Horn found wide receiver Leo Popp for a long pass over the top to keep the ball moving. That was quickly followed by some tough running up the middle by Hector Martinez to punch in the TD. A quick pass from Horn to tight end Nathan Campbell converted the extra point, and North was up 19-6. Showing that he can play on both sides of the ball, Perry got the ball back for North by making a sensational interception down the sideline. And the resulting action found North moving the ball once again; capped off by a 25 yard QB keeper around the end by Horn to put North up 25-6. Despite the Wolves finding another late score to end the half, it was North who dominated the game and took the 25-12 victory to start the season off strong!

Fueled by the energy of the A win, the North B team was also fired up and ready to play. It didn't take long for running back Max Hentschel to weave in and out and all around as he ran down the field for a 40+ yard score; putting the Cougars on top 6-0. But that wasn't the end of the explosive action as North hit on a long TD pass from QB Jackson Greene to tight end Samuel Macaluso on the final play of the first half to go into the break up 12-0. Starting the 3rd quarter, Hentschel once again broke some ankles on the first play to take off on another long TD run; increasing the Cougars' lead to 18-0. But the Cougars proved greeedy, and on the next possession, rover Julian Joseph jumped in front of a Cross Timbers pass to make the interception. And QB Greene quickly converted this opportunity into points with a keeper around the end and into the end zone to increase the Cougar lead to 24-0. But to cap off the night, on the ensuing kickoff, it was kicker Preston Boucher who found a way to take the ball away from the Wolves' returner and blast the other way for a thrilling TD of his own. After all of the excitement, it was North securing the 30-0 shutout win to start their season!

UP NEXT:
AWAY at Grapevine MS on Tuesday, 9/8/26.
A team starts at 5:00; B team to follow.

#GoCougars!