Football: Cougars claw Clewiston, 33-7

Instead of a playoff berth, the Cougars were playing to finish above .500. Routing Class 2A No. 7 Clewiston on Friday night, 33-7, and knocking Cape Coral out of the playoffs the previous week at least is something to feel good about.

Junior running back Moises Plancher rushed 25 times for 314 and three touchdowns to become the area's leading rusher as the Cougars rolled over the Tigers at Cougar Stadium.

"Our kids didn't have really anything to play for other than trying to get a winning record," BC coach Bill Sparacio said. "They could've folded up their tents last week."

Barron Collier finished at 6-4, its first winning season since going 7-4 in 1998. The Cougars made the playoffs that year, but district losses to Naples High and Lely ended their hopes this season.

Plancher, who passed Naples High's Jamelle Eugene for the rushing lead, gave them hope for next year. Running behind center Richie Rosabella, guards Joe Harp and Chris Demaris and tackles Alex Brao and Addison Gorman, Plancher had a pair of big runs, a 65-yarder in the second quarter that set up a touchdown, and a 50-yarder in the third quarter that did the same.

The Cougars led 12-0 at the half and 19-0 in the third quarter against the playoff-bound Tigers.

BC's defense bottled up Clewiston's offense most of the night, holding the Tigers (4-5) to just nine first downs, two of them as the clock was running out, and getting three interceptions.

Before those two final first downs, Sparacio chose to keep Plancher in the game, hoping to set a single-game school rushing record. However, afterward, Morrill was not pleased with that and told Sparacio so. He thought the Cougars should have been taking a knee. Instead, Plancher carried the ball five times, twice in the final minute, before fumbling.

Clewiston: 0 - 0 - 7 - 0--7

Barron Collier: 6 - 6 - 7 - 14--33

SCORING -- BC -- Hunter 3 pass from Caputo (kick failed) BC -- Plancher 1 run (pass failed) BC -- Plancher 1 run (Smith kick) C -- Minikwu 2 run (Rubio kick) BC -- Scrivens 27 run (Smith kick) BC -- Plancher 8 run (Smith kick)

INDIVIDUAL LEADERS

Rushing -- Clewiston: Hubert 2-26, Adderly 11-25, Wright 4-8, Rubio 2-9, Johnson 2-5, Pope 3-(-2). Barron Collier: Plancher 25-314, Scrivens 9-83, Howell 4-9, Carter 2-4, Hunter 1-4, Norris 1-(-6), Caputo 4-(-19).

Passing -- Clewiston: Pope 10-17-3 96. Barron Collier: Caputo 8-14-1 88, Plancher 0-1-0 00.

Receiving -- Clewiston: Rubio 5-50, Adderly 2-18, Waddell 1-19, Wood 1-9, Johnson 1-0. Bar ron Collier: Cruse 2-43, Hunter 2-11, Dillingham 1-12, Carter 1-9, Bethea 1-9, O'Neil 1-7.