The Locker Room
by Jeff Wolfe



Dominant Defense

BOX SCORE

10/30/98 - Pulaski County had a defensive stand inside their own 10 yard line, punted the Patrick Henry Patriots to inside their 10 yard line, and then blocked the punt for a touchdown. During a game that was big for the Cougar’s defense and special teams, one had to wonder if ‘Uncle Frank’ might have come over from VT earlier in the week to trade coaching secrets with former WVU star Joel Hicks. But no, really it was Hicks and his excellent coaching staff that deserved the credit for the outstanding play by the Cougars this night.

Domarlo Banks returned the kickoff to the PH 19. On 3rd and 4, the defense knocked the blocking back into Reggie Jones, tripping him in the backfield for no gain. The PH punter was hurried as the kick was almost blocked, resulting in a high and short punt.

PC would start at the PH 26. Five plays later Scott caught the quick pitch to the left for a 5 yard touchdown. Ashworth’s PAT was no good.

Banks returned the kick to the PH 26. Jeff King jumped offsides, and five yards were walked off. King was working out the jitters of his debut at defensive tackle in place of the injured first teamer.

Jones took the dive play to the right and through the first two lines of the defense, gaining a first down before being tackled by Scott and Bubba Walker, who replaced the injured Josh Calfee at left corner.

It was thought that Calfee had broken his heel two weeks earlier against William Fleming. Once the swelling had decreased, doctors determined that the injury was only a sprain. Calfee had practiced with the team on Thursday, and was dressed on the sideline ready to play if needed, but never entered the game.

PH converted on a 4th and 1 situation at their own 49 as Banks carried the dive for 2 yards. Three plays later the quarterback faked to two other backs before giving to Banks, who carried the ball for 25 yards to the PC 12.

The Patriots would reach 2nd and 6 on the 8 before the Cougar defense reversed the direction of the drive. Banks was caught for a loss of 2. Then Jones took the handoff to the left and was met in the backfield by Porter for a 5 yard loss. A penalty on PH continued the backpedal. John Flannigan’s field goal attempt failed, and that was as close as PH would get to scoring.

On 3rd and 1 at PC’s own 29, Scott responded with a spectacular run. He caught the quick pitch to the right and followed his blocking lineman for a few steps before cutting back hard, almost directly left laterally, turning the shoulders of the entire defense before being tackled 38 yards downfield near the left sideline.

After the end of the first quarter, Cobb carried the criss cross right for 21 yards to the endzone, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty. Roop fumbled the snap on the next play and gained no yards. With 3rd and 24 at the PH 34, Roop dropped back and threw to Cobb on a post route, who could not make the catch at the goal line. To Cougar fans, there was a question of pass interference on the defender in purple, but there was no answer from the yellow hanky.

Ashworth punted PH to the 3 with a beautiful diagonal punt out of bounds at the right sideline.

PH could not start a drive and set up to punt from their own 9. Cobb came past his defender and blocked the attempt for Miller to recover in the endzone for a touchdown. King was wide open between the linebackers, but dropped Roop’s pass on the two point conversion attempt. Pulaski County led 12-0.

After the kickoff, the Patriot offense ran three plays and punted, resulting in a 1st and 10 for the Cougars at their own 42.

Miller took the dive play left into the defensive backfield, and cut left by an impressive block by King for a 28 yard gain. The Cougars lined up with a tight end and wing on the left, shifting to unbalanced formation on the right, and Roop just managed to call time out as the play clock expired before the shift was complete. The offense ran the same formation again to direct attention to the right as Roop took the naked bootleg to the left for a touchdown at the corner of the endzone. The two point conversion was successful as Scott caught the quick flip left to paydirt, making the score PC 20- PH zero.

The kickoff was a touchback and the defense again put up a stand of three and out.

Roop rolled out right to pass, then carried the ball himself, but King was called for clipping and the penalty yards were assessed. With 1st and 25, Miller got the call and responded with 7 yards. Cobb then took the criss cross for 8 more. Then from 3rd and 10 Roop backpedaled and then threw the screen pass left to Miller who picked up a smashing block by Josh Coleman and ran for 11 and the first down.

Two plays later an opportunity to take an aerial shot at the endzone was ignored and Ashworth’s field goal attempt on third down was unsuccessful.

The Patriots threw incomplete and were sacked before time expired in the half.

The purple defense looked flat to start the second half, as if the players had already given up hope. Pulaski County would piece together a 7 play drive on the first second half possession, scoring on a 1 yard TD carry by Scott. Ashworth’s PAT was good.

The PH offense returned to a no-quarterback, single wing scheme that the team had tried earlier this season. The purple offense showed some spark here, starting on a good drive, that was stopped as the deficit from a personal foul penalty was too much to overcome.

From the PC 48 Roop dropped into passing formation and threw 30 yards in the air to a wide open Cobb, who dropped what would have been a sure touchdown. Soon Peaslee would punt.

One wing was not enough to produce many more offensive yards for the Patriots who were held to three plays and a punt.

The Cougars drove down the field and ran the clock on a 11 play drive, culminating with a 22 yard field goal by Ashworth, to create the final score, 30- 0.

PH was done for the night and turned the ball over on downs.

Then the Cougar’s second team ran a few plays to finish the clock.

BOX SCORE

Send Feedback about The Locker Room to jeffwolfe@cougarfootball.net

HOME