EBEN — The Superior Central Cougars got bit hard by the injury bug Saturday, dropping a 48-36 football decision to the Brimley Bays.

Zach Englund, the Cougars’ third-string quarterback, went down early in the fourth quarter with a possible MCL injury. The team also lost its fourth and fifth-string QBs during the Great Lakes Eight East Division match-up.

“We had to change our offense quite a bit,” said Cougars’ coach Sam Eggleston. “Zach is probably looking at 4-6 weeks of recovery. Right now, we have 15 guys injured out of our 25. Although, I think we’ll get six back for sure and we may be getting our No. 4 quarterback (Clayton Collier) back.”

Englund ran for 133 yards and two touchdowns and hit 9-of-18 passes for 125 yards and two scores.

Jack Rondeau scored the Cougars’ first TD on a two-yard run. Englund scored on runs of eight and 10 yards in the third stanza. Parker Maki caught a 15-yard TD pass and Lucas Kanerva had a 14-yard TD reception.

The Cougars took a brief 30-28 lead in the third quarter. The Bays then regained the lead (34-30) on an 88-yard kickoff return by Mason Harris, who was playing with a hip injury.

“That was my fault,” said Eggleston. “I thought Harris was on the sideline. He’s probably the best back (in eight-player football) in the Upper Peninsula. We wanted them to beat us with somebody else and they did.”

Collier finished with 87 yards rushing on 17 carries. Kanerva caught three passes for 41. Rondeau snagged three aerials for 40 and Joe McNally had three receptions for 39.

Kanerva and Rondeau had 14 tackles apiece and Rondeau added 12. Kanerva and Rondeau recovered fumbles. Kanerva added a QB sack.

“Every week has been a challenge, but the boys are going to play hard,” said Eggleston. “We want to try to end on a positive note and look forward to next year.”

The Cougars (2-5) travel to Cedarville Friday. Brimley (5-2) hosts Newberry Thursday.