{"id":6177,"date":"2025-11-04T07:05:44","date_gmt":"2025-11-04T10:05:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/2025\/11\/04\/cougars-claw-sharks-for-playoff-football-win\/"},"modified":"2025-11-04T07:05:44","modified_gmt":"2025-11-04T10:05:44","slug":"cougars-claw-sharks-for-playoff-football-win","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/2025\/11\/04\/cougars-claw-sharks-for-playoff-football-win\/","title":{"rendered":"Cougars claw Sharks for playoff football win"},"content":{"rendered":"<div>\n<p>Cougars\u2019 receiver Kai Lyngo goes tumbling out-of-bounds after making a catch and picking good yardage in second quarter action of CEC\u2019s playoff win over Bay View on Nov. 2. Photo by Richard MacKenzie \/Truro NewsArticle contentTRURO \u2013 The CEC Cougars football team punched their ticket to the Nova Scotia division one semi-finals with a convincing 27-12 victory over the Bay View Sharks on Nov. 2.THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY.Subscribe now to access this story and more:Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsSUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES.Subscribe or sign in to your account to continue your reading experience.Unlimited access to the website and appExclusive access to premium content, newsletters and podcastsFull access to the e-Edition app, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment onEnjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalistsSupport local journalists and the next generation of journalistsRegister to unlock more articles.Create an account or sign in to continue your reading experience.Access additional stories every monthShare your thoughts and join the conversation in our commenting communityGet email updates from your favourite authorsSign In or Create an AccountorArticle contentPlaying on their home turf at James MacPherson Stadium, the third-seeded Cougars took control of the quarter-final game early and dominated the first half. They took a 24-2 lead over their rivals from the Upper Tantallon-based high school, into the locker room at half-time, and coasted to victory. Article contentArticle contentArticle contentThe Sharks, the sixth seed, would put a few points on the board as time ran down in the contest, but it was a case of too little, too late.Article content\u201cOn both sides of the ball, we\u2019re executing as well as we have all year,\u201d said head coach Shawn Davison after the victory. \u201cOffensively, that is the best we\u2019ve played, and defensively, while we played pretty well all year, today was even better. It was a big team effort.\u201dArticle contentDavison said he wasn\u2019t surprised by the effectiveness of his team in the playoff game.Article content\u201cWe\u2019ve been on the edge of playing really well for a while now,\u201d he said. \u201cThat (Bay View) is a tough team, but we just had the edge on them today.\u201d Article content CEC defensive back Noel Miller rises up to pick off a Sharks\u2019 pass attempt, intended for Anthony Darrigan. Also pictured from the Cougars is Garrett Casey. Photo by Richard MacKenzieArticle contentArticle contentCEC quarterback Ryker Durning said a key for the Cougars is to keep working as a unit.Article content\u201cWe\u2019re just focused on working as a team, that\u2019s about it,\u201d Durning said. \u201cWe keep our heads up and focused on the next play, on executing it.\u201dArticle contentArticle contentAsked if the convincing win added to the team\u2019s confidence, Durning said it could a little, but the team is more concerned with staying grounded in the moment and not getting too high or too low.Article content\u201cWe can\u2019t get up or down,\u201d he said, \u201cwe just have to keep our emotions flat, and play hard.\u201dArticle contentAs for what the focus will be during the week of practice leading up to the semi-final, Durning said it\u2019s about staying consistent with the plays that are working well now.Article content\u201cAnd cleaning up the stuff we know we can be better in,\u201d he said.Article content CEC linebacker Layten Kinsman wraps up a Bay View ballcarrier. The Cougars\u2019 defence was very stingy on the day, as they have been for most of the 2025-26 season. Photo by Richard MacKenzie \/Truro NewsArticle contentArticle contentDavison said practice will also focus on who they play, whether it will be the number two seed Citadel Phoenix or the seventh-seeded Auburn Drive Eagles (game not played before press time). Article content\u201cWe\u2019ll make adjustments depending on who we\u2019re playing,\u201d said the veteran gridiron coach. \u201cAnd we\u2019ll be ready.\u201dArticle content The CEC offence, pictured driving here late in the second quarter, would add another three points before the half, and take a commanding 24-2 lead into the locker room. Photo by Richard MacKenzie \/Truro NewsArticle contentArticle contentArticle contentArticle content<\/p>\n<\/p><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cougars\u2019 receiver Kai Lyngo goes tumbling out-of-bounds after making a catch and picking good yardage in second quarter action of CEC\u2019s playoff win over Bay View on Nov. 2. Photo by Richard MacKenzie \/Truro NewsArticle contentTRURO \u2013 The CEC Cougars football team punched their ticket to the Nova Scotia division one semi-finals with a convincing [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":95,"featured_media":6178,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[118,590,1],"tags":[116,589],"class_list":["post-6177","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-indigenous","category-newfoundland-and-labrador","category-uncategorized","tag-indigenous","tag-newfoundland-and-labrador"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6177","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/95"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=6177"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/6177\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6178"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=6177"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=6177"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/service.codeus.ca\/index.php\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=6177"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}