#7 SW Edgecombe 42 North Pitt 0

[SWE'98]

The Cougar defense flexed its muscle tonight, only allowing the NP Panthers into the redzone once as the shut out the host by the score of 42-0. After allowing offenses to score only 6 points each in the last two contests, SWE came out of its bye week sluggish but efficient against the 2-4 conference foes. It was a great tune up for next week's pivotal matchup against Washington. Since this version of the Eastern Plains Conference's inception, Washington has yet to taste defeat within the league. SWE must win this game to have any chance of being conference champions, because Washington handled the other threat in the league tonight, Farmville Central. Washington will have a smooth road after their game against us, so if they win next week, a loss isn't foreseeable. The conference championship is on the line in the second week of league play. As for tonight's game vs NP, it was was expected. I'm just glad the D finally got that elusive egg. And let me tell you, having Quontellis Norwood back out there, playing and contributing to two huge receptions, meant the world to every Cougar family member out there. This guy got shot in the neck after week 2 and nobody thought he would play again. No matter what the scoreboard said, THAT was a win for SouthWest.

 

[SWECOUGARS]

To be honest, a 42-0 W looks fantastic on paper - but we played a bit sloppier than I would have hoped against the panthers. Offense was great all night - especially in our passing game. We went 7 for 9 for 115 yards. Doesn't seem like much, but for SWE - haven't seen it that good in years. Sluggish may be the better word for Friday's performance - even though we got the shutout we have been looking for, the defense should have capitalized on more of NP's mistakes. I counted 5 fumbles and I am sure there were more - most of which were bad snaps - and they got them all back. If we are going to beat Washington, we have to take advantage of their mistakes. Overall great win and glad to see #8 back on the field.

 

[SWE'98]

Triple digit passing yards for SWE is like seeing the tooth fairy riffing a unicorn, and I would believe the latter happening before the former. But lo and behold, it happened. The air attack was an awesome use of the bye week, and is something that we MUST have in order to continue winning. Washington is very capable of shutting down the run and opening them up on defense is absolutely necessary. They are 4-3, and those three losses are understandable, given the teams. I think we did well against NP. We moved the ball at will, and like I said, NP only got to the redzone once. But NP ain't Washington! For all the mistakes that NP made, I wouldn't count on seeing the same vs Washington.