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Pass-Happy Cougars Latest To Test Pirates

By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: December 12, 2008

Tallahassee Godby came within 23 yards of spending tonight in Tallahassee. In fact, Pasco coach Tom McHugh exchanged films with St. Augustine following the Pirates' 13-12 region final win against Citra North Marion because St. Augustine coaches told him they had won the game.

But Godby sophomore Billy Mueller booted the game-winning 23-yard field goal with one second remaining to lift the Cougars to a 10-9 win and a spot in tonight's Class 3A state semifinal at W.F. Edwards Stadium.

Godby (11-2) lives and dies by the pass. All-American quarterback A.J. Graham has passed for more than 3,000 yards this season, but struggled against St. Augustine.

Here's a breakdown of the Cougars, with information provided by the Tallahassee Democrat and MaxPreps.com.

ON OFFENSE: Everything goes through Graham. The senior has thrown for 3,523 yards this season (213-for-342) and 37 TD passes, and has rushed for 510 yards on 88 carries. Against St. Augustine, he threw for 259 yards, but the offense struggled until the fourth quarter. Graham completed 21 of 46 passes, but receivers dropped nine passes.

"We did not play well offensively," Godby coach Shelton Crews told the Tallahassee Democrat after the game. "We played lights-out defensively. We played well enough at the end to win the game."

In that game, the Cougars only rushed the ball 11 times - nine of them by Graham. Godby has been nearly a 50-50 run-pass team this season (338 rushes, 350 passes) but has thrown 104 passes in three playoff games, compared to only 54 rushing plays.

Graham's favorite receivers are Willie Downs (58 catches, 939 yards, 13 TDs), Kessey Graham (52, 966, eight) and Chris St. Hilaire (50, 836, 10). When the Cougars run the ball, Lavorie Johnson handles the bulk of the carries. The junior has 144 carries for 950 yards and nine TDs, but he only had one carry for 1 yard against St. Augustine.

ON DEFENSE: Opponents are only averaging 11.5 points per game against Godby, and 50 of the Cougars' points allowed came against Madison County in a 50-33 loss in Week 9. In the playoffs, Godby has only allowed two touchdowns and 15 points. The Cougars have a plus-eight takeaway margin.

Senior linebacker Justin Jones leads the Cougars defense with 111 solo tackles and nine sacks. Godby averages almost an interception per game (12 in 13 games) with William Davis leading the way with four picks.

SPECIAL TEAMS: Mueller's field goal against St. Augustine was only his third of the season and his longest this season is 23 (twice). He is 38-of-50 on extra points. Graham and Downs share punting duties and have a combined average of 38.8 yards a punt on 23 kicks.

MEET THE COUGARS

SCHOOL: Amos P. Godby, 1717 W. Tharpe St., Tallahassee, Leon County

ATHLETIC DIRECTOR: Reginald Davis

FOOTBALL COACH:

Shelton Crews

CLASS-DISTRICT: 3A-2

STATE PLAYOFF HISTORY: 16-8 overall, 5-7 under Crews. Won the Class 4A state title in 1976 and 1987 as well as the 3A title in 1986. After winning state title in 1987, didn't return to playoffs until 1999.

SEASON RESULTS (11-2)

at Tallahassee Leon

at Gainesville

Gainesville Eastside

Panama City Bay

Tallahassee Rickards

Tallahassee Chiles

at Crawfordville Wakulla

at Madison County

Havana East Gadsden

Tallahassee Lincoln

Pensacola