The Locker Room
by Jeff Wolfe
SHUT DOWN, SHUT OUT
BOX SCORE
9/12/98 - Salem used power in the trenches and finesse in the air to
dominate Pulaski County quickly and efficiently in this non-district VHSL contest. Cougar
star running back and safety Kwasi Scott watched from the sideline with a foot injury as
PC fielded the youngest varsity football team in school history. Using his first team only
three quarters, Willis White and his Spartans posted a 47-0 shutout. The only worse defeat
in school history was a 66-12 thrashing in 1976 by Bluefield, the Cougars next opponent.
The Cougars fumbled the ball
away three times to keep Salem’s scoring drives short. PC Coach Joel Hicks looked his
team in the face many times and seemed to be demanding that they give their best effort
each play. The Cougars faced the wind of this blowout with courage, continuing to fight
long after the outcome was determined.
Pulaski Co. won the toss and chose to defer. Salem elected to receive the ball for
the first half. It would be the only time during the night that PC would kick off.
Jeremie Shelor returned the ball to the 32. Salem ran for short gains on their first three plays, gaining a first down. When Jarrett Porter and Billy Hale stopped Dennis Haley for no gain on the next play, it seemed like the Cougars might be able to keep the game close. QB Andy Mullins ended those thoughts immediately with a short pass to Jason Buster. Cougar Freshman DB Josh Calfee went for the interception, leaving Buster alone to run after the catch for a 44 yard gain. Four plays later Haley carried off the right tackle for a 3 yard TD. The PAT was good for a 7-0 Spartan lead.
Senior David Robinson fielded the kickoff at the 4 and returned it to the Cougar 9. Filling in for the injured Scott, Calfee took the first handoff and dove over a crowd of lineman, causing him to fumble the ball away. Two plays later Haley carried to the right for a 2 yard TD. Salem missed the PAT but led 13-0.
Scott was present on the sideline dressed in a sweat suit and found a role there. He took Calfee aside and offered encouragement to him after the fumble.
After a touchback, Justin McGuire carried for 3 yards to the 23. Calfee carried twice for only a gain of 1. Bobby Peaslee punted and Frank Cobbs, Jr made the tackle.
Salem’s Mike Loritsch was stopped after a 1 yard gain. Then came the most spectacular play of the night for the Spartans. Mullins dropped back and threw deep down the left sideline to J.R. Andrews for a 77 yard TD strike. The ball hung in the air for about 45 yards, high above the crowd, and came down over Andrews’ right shoulder. Calfee was out of position to make the play, trailing Andrews by three steps. The PAT was good and Salem led 20-0 with 3:23 still remaining in the first quarter.
Sophomore Jon Anderson returned the kick 30 yards to the PC 34. QB Travis Roop dropped back to pass, but was swamped with defenders. Brandon Miller carried for 1 yard. The two teams traded offsides penalties. Calfee was met in the backfield by Spartans for a 1 yard loss.
Bobby Peaslee punted for 54 yards, but there was a flag on the play to give PC another opportunity on the drive. A clipping penalty was called on Salem before they gained possession, and the ball was brought back to give the Cougars a first down on their own 45 yard line.
Miller carried for 1, then Calfee for 3 as the quarter ended. McGuire gained 1 yard and then Peaslee punted to the Spartan 13. Here PC put on its first defensive stand of the night. Loritsch ran for two consecutive first downs. Porter and Cobbs then met Haley in the backfield for a loss of 1. A flare pass to Haley fell incomplete. Loritsch ran for nine yards but was tackled by Calfee short of the first down. Salem could punt for only 7 yards as pressure from Cougar junior Joseph Burns forced a hurried punt.
From the PC 42, Calfee carried for a 15 yard gain. A facemask penalty added 15 more. Then from the 29, the offense started backwards. An illegal procedure penalty took 5 yards. The criss cross to Porter was met in the backfield for a 2 yard loss. Roop dropped back to pass, was hit and fumbled. Salem picked the ball up and advanced it to the PC 35. Mullins passed into the center of the field for a 35 yard TD. The PAT was good for a 27-0 lead.
The Cougar offense could not move the ball. On Salem’s first play of the series, Hale tackled Haley and caused a fumble, but the Spartans recovered. It took 8 more plays for Salem to increase their lead. Spencer Christley had a 2 yard TD carry and the PAT was good for a 34-0 lead with 13 seconds remaining in the half. PC could not move the ball forward and time expired in the half.
PC opened the second half at their 20. A holding penalty dropped them back to the 12. Calfee was knocked back two more. Miller had gains of 5 and 1 yards. Peaslee punted for 30 yards.
Haley ran for 13 yards then 33 more for a touchdown. The PAT was successful for a Spartan 41-0 lead.
After the touchback, McGuire carried for 2 yards. Porter took the criss cross for 12 yards to the 34 yard line. Hale carried but fumbled the ball away.
Salem put together a 10 play drive and scored on a 3 yard run by E.J. Thomas.
Adam Brockmeyer gained the only points of the night for the Cougars by subtraction.
He came through the line to block the extra point attempt. Salem had finished the scoring 47-0 with 3:08 remaining in the 3rd quarter.
Calfee carried for 3 to the 23. Roop threw to sophomore Jeff King in the flat for a 16 yard gain. PC could not gain more yards on the drive and punted.
Salem’s second team was ineffective and a punt attempt was unsuccessful as the Cougars tacked the punter. PC took over on the Salem 30. Roop dropped back to pass, but had defenders all around. Showing his increasing maturity with managing this situation, he was able to throw the ball away, avoiding the sacks and fumbles that have occurred previously this season. Porter lost 1 yard on the criss cross. Roop carried for a 6 yard gain. Calfee gained a yard, but the ball was turned over on downs.
Neither Salem’s second team offense, nor PC’s offense could do anything of note the rest of the game.
BOX SCORESend Feedback about The Locker Room to jeffwolfe@cougarfootball.net