The Locker Room
by Jeff Wolfe
Big Play Leads Laurel Park
over Pulaski County, Franklin County Presents Plaque
8/23/98 - Preseason football action continued for the Cougars at the Hudson’s 15th annual Touchdown Classic on Friday, August 21st. Pulaski County played its first two quarter scrimmage against Laurel Park. Both teams showed character by putting together sustained drives. A big play on fourth and 1 from their own territory created the win for LP.
LP opened the game from their own 35 yard line, since the scrimmage does not include kickoffs. They ground out a 13 play, 65 yard drive to take the lead 6-0. The drive finished with an 8 yard touchdown run. The point after touchdown attempt failed. LP moved the chains for four first downs on the drive. The longest play was a 14 yard pass to convert on 3rd and 12. LP was also successful on a forth and short situation.
PC drove 65 yards on 11 plays to take the lead 7-6. During the drive, to convert on a 3rd and 12 situation, quarterback #3 Travis Roop threw a screen pass to #5 Kwasi Scott for a 13 yard gain. The Cougars scored on a 9 yard criss-cross to #33 Jarrett Porter. The PAT was successful by #13 Cameron Ashworth. Laurel Park could get off only three more plays before time expired in the ‘half’ of the two quarter scrimmage.
PC opened the second ‘half’ with two first downs on a ten play drive that ended with a 30 yard Bobby Peaslee punt. After LP gained one first down, it looked like the Cougar defense would hold the sequence. However, a 4-1 gamble from their own territory paid off big for LP. The running back broke through the first line of defenders around the left end, then continued for a 75 yard run for a touchdown. A two point conversion pass attempt failed, leaving what would be the final score, PC7 -LP12. The Cougars lost yardage on their final possession. After receiving the punt from Peaslee, LP let time expire.
After the contest LP left to the track under the scoreboard to celebrate. However, the Cougars were about to participate in a more meaningful celebration, one like I have never seen in athletics. While one team reveled in a scrimmage victory, two other teams celebrated something more important, the memory of Lee Cook. As Franklin County’s football team emerged from the locker room for their next contest, it was announced that they were presenting Pulaski County’s players with a plaque in memory of Lee Cook. On the field the colors of the uniforms of the two teams mixed into one huddle, with the plaque held high in the center. I heard a spirit cheer of a different kind as the two teams became one. The people of Franklin County remind me with their gesture that friendship is more important than football. Lee was a friend to others and he has not been forgotten.
PC QB Travis Roop Emerging as a Team Leader
Pulaski County concluded preseason action with a scrimmage against Northside.
PC prevailed 14-0 as turnovers hurt the Vikings, especially when an early second ‘half’ fumble positioned the Cougars for a short scoring drive.
The first ‘half’ started for PC on its own 35 yard line. QB Travis Roop shot early with an exciting pass to #88 Randy Grubb for a 51 yard gain. Three plays later Roop scored untouched with an 8 yard bootleg keeper to his right. The PAT by Cameron Ashworth was successful, making an early 7-0 lead.
Northside could not start a drive and punted after three plays. On the second play of the resulting Cougar possession, #3 Travis Roop rolled right and threw an incomplete pass into the flat, but an interference penalty resulted in a PC first down. Then on 3rd and 9, #33 Jarrett Porter picked up 7 yards with help from a memorable lead block by #78 Jonathan Hedrick. However, it was not enough, and PC elected to punt. After a illegal procedure penalty was assessed, a Bobby Peaslee punt went for 50 yards for PC.
The Vikings started on their own ten yard line. The two teams traded offsides penalties on the sequence for no net for either team. Northside earned a first down with an option play to the right for 9 yards. When two incomplete passes stopped progress, the Vikings punted for 42 yards.
Kwasi Scott opened the drive with a 15 yard carry. Then two incomplete passes stalled the Cougars. One of these was a dropped pass and the other was thrown at the receiver’s feet. The punt went into the endzone, for a 28 yard net gain.
On Northside’s following sequence, with 3rd and 7, #5 Kwasi Scott intercepted a Viking pass and returned it for 15 yards. Travis Roop rolled out to the right side to pass, but elected to keep for a 4 yard gain. He showed leadership and time management awareness by carrying out of bounds to stop the clock. However, two sacks pushed the Cougars back as time expired in the ‘half’.
On the second play of the second ‘half’, Northside fumbled the ball away. Kwasi Scott and #7 Brandon Miller alternated at short gains on carries for several plays. Then Scott scored on a 10 yard TD run, setting up Ashworth for another successful PAT, score 14-0.
Northside could only move the chains once for a first down before punting was recommended. Then the Cougar offense began to lose yardage, but on a 3rd and 15 predicament, Travis Roop carried the ball himself for a 16 yard carry to convert. Jarrett Porter then carried the crisscross for 8 yards on the following play. Then on 3rd and 1 he converted for the first with a 3 yard carry. Two plays later Porter carried again for four yards until the ball popped loose on a collision. QB Travis Roop was following the play to block and showed his quick reflexes by catching the projectile fumble mid-air to retain possession for the Cougars. After a delay of game penalty set PC back five yards, a short carry brought about 4th and 2, with less than a minute on the clock. PC decided to go for it from their own territory to preserve control of the ball. On the possession gamble Kwasi Scott carried for 10 yards and a first down. Time soon expired to preserve a 14-0 victory for Pulaski County.
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