Cougars hold off Roughriders in Friday night battle
In a matchup that lived up to the hype, the Central McLean Cougars and the Southern McLean Roughriders squared off under the Friday night lights, treating fans to a thrilling contest that wasn’t decided until the final minutes.
The Cougars traveled to Washburn on Sept. 19, who was hosting its 2025 homecoming.
Central McLean ultimately prevailed 34-26, but both squads walked away with reasons for pride and optimism.
The Cougars came out firing, using a balanced offensive attack and opportunistic defense to build an early advantage.
Central McLean executed with precision in the opening two quarters, stacking up a three touchdown lead that pushed them to a comfortable halftime position.
Their ability to establish control at the line of scrimmage set the tone, with both the run and pass game keeping Southern McLean guessing.
The defensive unit also did its part, forcing mistakes and limiting big plays outside the occasional explosive Southern McLean run.
By the break, the Cougars held a three-score cushion, leaving many in the home stands anticipating a runaway finish.