How Harrisburg’s ‘Cougar Way,’ mental toughness helped it upset third-ranked Coatesville

Calvin Everett was proud.

And the Harrisburg football coach couldn’t hide it if he wanted Friday following his 10th-ranked Cougars’ 14-6 upset of third-ranked Coatesville.

The difference in the teams?

Crunch time.

When Harrisburg needed a big play the most, it made it.

When the Cougars had to stop Coatesville on the 1, twice, they did.

You’re not supposed to lose so much — quarterback Kane Everson, PennLive’s Offensive Player of the Year, and linebacker Andre White Jr., PennLive’s Defensive Player of the Year, graduated following last season — and be so good.

Especially upstairs.

But Everett felt like his Cougars bested the Red Raiders there when it mattered most.

So, there was no containing the excitement on his face as he thought about that.

“That’s something I know we will be able to build on,” he said.

There were hiccups.

Anytime you can beat the third-ranked team in the state it’s a big deal.

But Friday was not always a thing of beauty for the Cougars.

Harrisburg’s best linebacker, Harold O’Neal, was ejected after a second-half tussle.

They were far too many penalties for Everett’s liking.

“There were a lot of mistakes on the field,” defensive lineman Saquon Carter-Barton said. “But we will just get back to the drawing board on Monday.”

But the bright spots outweighed the bad.

Receivers Donte Kent and Kamere Day, both track stars, ran by Coatesville’s corners most of the night.

“We knew they couldn’t match us with the speed,” Day said.

Quarterbacks Nicari Williams and John McNeil rotated, played well for the most part, and both tossed touchdowns.

Jahmir Plant nearly had 100 yards of offense.

Penn State target Nate Bruce was overpowering on the offensive and defensive lines.

The Cougars gave up almost nothing down the field on defense.

And Trevion Carey had a breakout, working the middle of the field as a receiver, and putting the game on ice with a smart read on a late punt.

“It’s the ‘Cougar Way,’” Carter-Barton said, referencing the team’s next-man-up mentality.

“I’m proud of my guys because they played hard,” Everett said. “That was one thing I preached to them before coming out here. I told them if they played hard, left it all on the field, the scoreboard would take care of itself.”

He was right.

New guys stepped in and stepped up.

And they did it, literally, at times, with their backs against the wall.

Coatesville made mistakes, sure, but the Cougars dug down deep, showed some mental fortitude, and pulled it out.

“It’s just a testament to our guys … to their character and resiliency,” Everett said. “When it mattered most, they stepped up to the plate.”

-- Follow Brian Linder on Twitter, @SportsByBLinder

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.