Quick Poll
Were you part of the record-setting TV audience of over 106 million on Sunday who watched the Super Bowl?
- Yes: 258
- No: 119
Total Votes:
Published Sunday, November 29, 2009 in Sports
Cougars welcome trip home for semifinals after dramatic playoff win over Grayson
By Tommy Camp
The Times-Herald
It's interesting that the two most dramatic plays in Newnan football playoff history came in state quarterfinal games and on the road.
The first occurred back in 2003 when Santez Mays ran 55 yards with a loose ball Sergio Render had knocked away from Parkview's quarterback with just seven seconds to play to give Newnan a 20-14 win.
The second happened Friday when Alec Ogletree blocked a Grayson field goal attempt from the Newnan 24 with five seconds left to preserve the Cougars' 9-7 win.
The hair-raising victory catapulted Newnan into Friday's state semifinal game at home against Northside Warner Robins, a 20-17 winner over Peachtree Ridge in triple overtime.
The Cougars won the coin toss to host Friday's matchup.
The win over Grayson was hard-earned and the two-point victory was the narrowest margin for the Cougars since they beat Coffee, 28-25, in the second round in 2007.
Newnan was held to its lowest offensive output of the year and had to rally in the second half to forge ahead then stave off two Grayson threats in the final 2:14 of the game.
A Grayson field goal attempt from 52 yards out with 2:14 left to play, set up by a 34-yard pass off a fake punt on fourth and 10 at its own 32, was short.
But the Rams were right back in business one minute, 12 seconds later.
Following the missed field goal, Newnan got the ball at its own 20, but three plays later faced a fourth and 15 from the 15.
In the meantime Grayson had called its final two timeouts and Newnan, then milking the clock for all it could get, allowed it to run down to 1:10 before stopping play prior to punting.
Patrick McAlpin's kick carried out to near midfield and was returned to the Newnan 36 where Grayson set up shop with 1:02 to play.
A first down run carried to the 25, but the Cougar defense stiffened and Grayson quarterback Patrick Santry spiked the ball at the Newnan 16 two snaps later with 11 seconds to play.
Newnan called the obligatory time out to attempt to ice placekicker Austin Clark.
When the Rams snapped the ball Ogletree rushed in from the right side of the Cougar line and snuffed the kick causing a mass eruption of joy and celebration on the field and in the Newnan stands.
When the dust had cleared there were only 5.7 seconds left on the clock.
Newnan had taken a 3-0 led in the first quarter on McAlpin's 36-yard field goal, his first of the year and only the second of the season for the Cougars.
Jake Oldham had a 20-yarder against Riverdale back in game six.
Grayson went up 7-3 in the second quarter after driving 77 yards against Newnan in a 15-all-on-the-ground-play series that took seven and a half minutes off the clock.
It was the first touchdown Newnan had given up from scrimmage in the playoffs this year.
It was also the longest drive of the year by an opponent in terms of plays run and duration.
Newnan trailed by those four points at halftime marking the third straight week the Cougars were behind at the break after leading all 10 of their regular season opponents at halftime.
The Cougars also failed to score a touchdown in the first half for the second straight week after outscoring their first 11 opponents 229-38 in the first and second quarters.
Newnan took the lead in the third quarter with a 63-yard, seven play drive topped off by a first and goal six-yard pass from Lendell Arnold, who was four-of-five throwing the ball during the drive for 56 yards, to Ogletree who made a leaping one-handed grab in the end zone.
The drive was the 22nd of the year of 60 yards or more for Newnan.
It was Ogletree's fifth touchdown reception of the year, but first in the playoffs and Arnold's 15th of the season and third of the playoffs.
The come-from-behind win was the fourth in a row for the Cougars who went through their first nine games trailing only for short periods against LaGrange in the second quarter and against Creekside in the first.
The Newnan defense was superb.
Of Grayson's 11 possessions, Newnan gave up the one touchdown but forced five three-and-outs, six punts, two turnovers and two missed field goals.
Grayson became the 10th team this year Newnan has held to a touchdown or less.
The win broke a four-game playoff losing streak on the road for the Cougars dating back to the Camden County game in the Georgia Dome in the 2003 semifinals.
The Parkview "miracle" was Newnan's last post-season win on the road before Friday.
The victory, Newnan's eighth in its last 10 playoff contests, pushed the Cougars over the .500 mark all-time in playoff action for the first time since 1951 at 24-23.
Comment On This Story
Times-Herald.com does not necessarily agree with the comments posted below. Responsibility of comments rests solely with the writer. Comments posted in ALL CAPS will be deleted.
Submission of a comment does not guarantee publication. Comments will be posted by a moderator after being scanned for abusive language, relevance, etc. See our Comments FAQ for more details.
Well, I will give you the fact that you know how to spell. Nice to see you finally have something positive to say.
Posted by David at 4:32 PM
Well Said, Cougarfan. and David not to get out without a jab.....it's spelled ridiculous - Go team !
Posted by Marco Polo at 11:50 AM
Boy am I sorry that I opened this can of worms. Let's put it to rest and go out and support the team as a community.
Lifelong Newnan resident and Cougar fan from way before they were Cougars! Football team play hard, Band play hard, fans cheer hard!
Posted by cougarfan at 10:36 AM
You said the football team dogged the band. No where in this article or in any of these comments does it say that. I just wish you would get your facts straight. I have no problem with someone expressing their opinion but your negativity is rediculous. Every comment you write is always some kind of jab at someone which gets old. Band Parents, it's ok, four or five comments out of the 30,000 people that live in Newnan should not get you that riled up. You have plenty of supporters and you know how good those kids are. I simply said they should play more and I stand by that. That is why they are at the game.
Posted by David at 8:58 AM
I assure you 95 percent of the fans who show up on Friday night are coming to see a great football game and not to watch the band. The Band have no factor in a ball game and is the least entertaining part of the night!!!!!!!
Posted by Offsides at 7:18 AM
Thanks Band Mom. I don't know exactly who you are, but I'm sure I know you. Our band parents are a special bunch that support us so much and take the time to get to know all the band kids. :) It does hurt for people to call our show boring. And thanks cougarfan. I appreciate it.
Posted by band member at 8:05 PM
Well here we go again with the band comments. I am a proud parent of a band member and have went to every competition. If my memory serves me correct, we have count them 2 GRAND CHAMPIONSHIPS this year. By the way, the band is at every game suppporting their TEAM. How many of the players, parents or fans of football go to support the band at their competitions. Believe me it is only a small amount. I would also like to say that negative comments toward the band only hurts the band members.
Posted by Proud Band Mom at 5:04 PM
Dave - take a powder, jeez...Cougarfan admitted their error "Mea Culpa". I was just merely pointed out not everyone whitewashes what goes on in the Newnan nation....even Cougarfan “Manned up” and admitted the band was less than exhilarating. And you won;t find the words idiot or illererate next to my picture, friend.
Posted by Marco Polo at 4:51 PM
Marco are you illiterate or just an idiot. One comment by one person does not constitute the entire Cougars football team or fans opinion. Our band does a great job but I do wish they would play more. It seems like the only thing you are apparently good at is being an instigator because you sure do not know anything about this program. Grow up and get a life.
Posted by David at 2:48 PM
Good luck Cougars, Good luck Band. ;-)
Posted by cougarfan at 11:33 AM
Now we have the football team calling out the band for being boring. Guess it's not all whine and roses on the west side of the county. Just bring home the ring, football and the band will do their job......
Posted by Marco Polo at 8:58 AM
Yes the band works hard but it is still a boring show.
Posted by cougarfan at 8:08 AM
cougarfan, not to be rude, but we've heard all that before. I just want to put it out there that we play our show for the crowd but not for the game. We play our "stand tunes" during the game to support the cougars, but we are our own entity and our show is designed for the judges at our competitions. We work hard and really appreciate the people who understand why we do what we do and who appreciate the music we make that we've spent over 9 hours a week for 6 months to perfect.
Posted by band member at 9:40 PM
I just wish the band would get some life and play something to inspire the crowd. Their half time show makes me want to take a nap.
Go Cougars, lets fill Drake Stadium up with loud Cougar fans.
Posted by cougarfan at 4:24 PM
I am so proud of all of you Cougars! The coaches and players have stepped up to the plate and got the job done! It takes all of you guys and you are proving that you want it. Keep up the great work! O-line I'm proud of you and defense you're doing great! Keep up the team work guys and we'll be in the dome!
Posted by Cougarsupporter at 3:13 PM
yall been fooled my the fake punt two weeks in a row, please watch for it.And offense the line need to get mad and open some holes.
Posted by Slick Rick at 12:24 PM
If Newnan plays a complete game, there is no team that can beat us. The problem is our D has been holding us afloat, and unless our offense shows up, we are done. I'm not knocking our offense, they just need to step it up.
Posted by HUGE SUPPORTER at 12:16 PM
Keep on pushing Cougars cause you are only one game away from the big party. Give till you cant give no more.
Posted by iceman at 8:04 AM
I would like to see the EC, N Gate, and LaGrange players at the Newnan game again. What great respect they show.....unlike some of these posters.
Posted by heyyall at 10:24 PM
watch the fake punts and protect the ball.please.
Posted by marty at 3:54 PM
We have a little more unfinish business to handle on Friday. Keep your head focus and remember in order to win it you have to want it. Defense I must say you all, and I mean all of you are great!!!! Offense keep up the good work and work harder!!!!!
Defense want it,
Offense gotta want it to!!!
Work hard this week and do not forget....the other team want it you have to want it more!!!
Posted by DNewnan at 2:17 PM
All the way COUGARS!!!
Posted by Nicole at 9:47 AM
Most Popular
- Viewed
- Emailed
- Commented
- Police ask for help in death of pedestrian
- A memorial to Caroline Cooley
- Store busted during video gambling sting
- Marijuana seized during I-85 traffic stop
- Ogletrees, others sign letters of intent; UGA, Georgia Tech signee lists
- Existing industry project in Coweta may add 100 jobs
- Coweta has nine among state's Smoke Diver grads
- Blocking the fast lane could cost Georgia drivers $75
- Mattress fire could have ended tragically
- Schools puzzled by charter approval
- Senoia bright spot in spite of economy
- Obituary: Mr. Tony Marvin Ingram
- Soggy fields problem, says soccer association
- Coweta-Fayette Rotary bringing 'Shroud Encounter' to Senoia March 1
- Chattahoochee Valley event returning to Coweta Feb. 20
- Hospital Authority may decide next month on technical college, clinic funding requests
- Ogletrees lead slew of seniors signing from Coweta high schools
- Ogletrees, others sign letters of intent; UGA, Georgia Tech signee lists
- Commissioners deadlocked on new site plan
- Blocking the fast lane could cost Georgia drivers $75
- Soggy fields problem, says soccer association
- Blocking the fast lane could cost Georgia drivers $75
- Schools puzzled by charter approval
- Perdue says most teachers like pay based on performance
- Courthouse clocks soon will tick again
- Ogletrees, others sign letters of intent; UGA, Georgia Tech signee lists
- Coweta 'Tea Party' opposes Perdue's plan to appoint officers
- Coweta has nine among state's Smoke Diver grads
- Store busted during video gambling sting
- Perdue: Teachers like my pay plan
Rag on....... Coweta
12/2/2009
Link To This Comment
Unbelievable! First Northgate, then the newspaper reporters and also the Newnan Band. Come on coweta- I'm sure you can rag on some others too. What? No complaints about the cheerleaders or the people running the concession stands? How bout the special ed programs..surely you must have something to rag on them about....What a joke some of you people are! Let's see who gets blamed if the cougars don't win....May i suggest the ball boy or the little girl selling popcorn.....idiots!
Posted by amused at 8:24 PM