Having secured a spot in the playoffs, Cougars enter bye week on an upswing

CAM has won three straight and improve mark to 4-2 in District 8

By Drew Herron - NT Sports Editor / Oct. 18, 2013

ANITA – The Cougars will take the weekend off, but wander into next week’s game in a familiar place. That is, fighting for playoff position and perhaps a home seeding against a talented Sidney team.

Just how Cumberland-Anita-Massena gets there was a bit off script for the Cougars riding a string of playoff appearances that stretches back a half-decade.

CAM did its part last week to sew up a playoff berth, knocking off Stanton 48-32 and carving out an impressive 4-2 record in District 8. Fremont-Mills sits atop the standings at 5-0, and will have to defeat Southwest Valley (4-1) this weekend to clinch first place. If the Knights lose, things get a bit muddier, with Sidney (4-1) and Southwest Valley sitting right there, along with 4-2 CAM.

The Cougars will take this week as an opportunity to heal and to grow.

“The bye week has been great,” said CAM head coach Joe Wollum. “It’s a chance to heal some guys up, and a chance to clean up some little things, and put a few new things in as well.  We have also had some fun as a team doing some competitive drills.”  

Last week, CAM got it done at Stanton on the ground. Senior tailback Dylan Amdor amassed 144 yards and three touchdowns on just 17 carries. Brady Runyan got the ball just twice, but one of those touches was for a 59-yard touchdown, and quarterback Trace Ticknor got 38 yards on 10 carries.

The Cougars did get the passing game going a bit as well. Ticknor connected with Amdor and Michael Holste four times each for 140 yards and three scores.

“As for running the ball, that has always been our goal, we have to continue to get better there too, and more consistent in the passing game,” coach Wollum says.

On defense, four different CAM players notched double-digit tackle statistics. Trace Ticknor recorded a team-high 12 tackles (5 solo and 1 for loss), while three others; Runyan, Drew Ticknor and Austin Williamson, each tallied 10 for the game. Moreover, Drew Ticknor ripped off three interceptions, and Runyan recorded one of three fumble recoveries for the Cougars. Senior Cole McAfee scooped up the other two.

Those takeaways have been an encouraging sign for the Cougars.

“That’s been great,” coach Wollum says. “The defense has taken some big strides the last few weeks.  We have created 17 turnovers the last 3 weeks as opposed to 9 the previous 5 weeks. That means guys being in the right spot, improved pass coverage and improved tackling causing those turnovers.”  

For the Cougars, much is left to be decided for the 2013 season. A lot will be sorted out next Friday night in Anita, when Sidney comes to town for a much-anticipated matchup. Until then, CAM will take a Friday night off, and let everyone else in District 8 beat on each other.

“Yes, we had a rough start, but give our guys credit for coming to practice everyday with a great attitude and an eagerness to improve,” coach Wollum says. “They have put us in a position to play our best football at the end of the year, and have a great deal of confidence heading into the playoffs.” 

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