The Locker Room
by Jeff Wolfe
Calfee and Scott knockout
Beavers
BOX SCORE
9/19/98 - Cougar senior Kwasi Scott returned from his foot injury to meet the defending AA West Virginia state champion Bluefield Beavers with tough tackling, 129 yards on 20 carries, and an interception in Mitchell Stadium. While Scott was away with injury, Josh Calfee did play tailback well, and showed that he belonged on the starting offense. So, with fullback Brandon Miller’s permission, Cougar head coach Joel Hicks moved Calfee to fullback. From that position, freshman Calfee made the ‘boring, up the middle’ play into his own highlight film with 18 carries for 151 yards. Miller makes his impact on defense and conceded the starting fullback position with grace.
The 1-2 punch of Calfee and Scott was too much for the Beavers to face as the Cougars overcame 9 penalties for 60 yards. The Beavers gave back more than their 5 penalties for 50 yards, because they were committed at the worst moments for Bluefield, almost always ending their own drives, or extending Cougar drives.
Bluefield received the kick off, but could not get moving and punted.
The Cougars couldn't move the ball either, but Bobby Peaslee punted the ball to the Beavers 2 yard line. Donald Amaker carried for 1. Junior Barnett was stopped for no gain. Amaker carried for 13 and a first down. Three plays later Bluefield punted for 27 yards.
The Cougars started 1st and 10 at the 50. Scott carried for five. Then Calfee carried back to back for 13 and then 17. Scott carried the ball around the left end, twisting as he was tackled and fell over the goal line for a 15 yard TD carry. He then limped off the field and Cameron Ashworth completed the PAT for a Cougar 7-0 lead with 1:20 left in the first quarter.
Amaker brought the kick off over the midline to the PC 48 yard line, and was stopped by the last man, Calfee. Freddy Simon dropped back to pass and was smothered by three Cougar defenders. With 2nd and 20, Simon dropped back into a deep shotgun position. With hints of a single wing, the snap went to the fullback Barnett for a 8 yard gain as the first quarter ended. Simon was again in shotgun formation, but Cougar defensive lineman John Edmonds sacked him for an 8 yard loss. The Beavers punted for 42 yards.
The Cougars started at their own 18 with Calfee taking the handoff and breaking three tackles on his way to a 32 yard gain. Travis Roop carried the ball himself for one yard, but a holding penalty brought about 1st and 14. Scott carried for seven, then Calfee for 8 for the first down. Scott followed his lead blocker through a large hole for six. Calfee carried for three. On 3rd and 1, Scott barely evaded a blitzing linebacker and went to the right for a 3 yard gain and a first down.
Jarrett Porter and Jeff King lined up on one side of the offensive line, then shifted in motion to the other side as they did many times in the first half. Calfee then carries for three. Porter took the criss-cross for 4. Cougars called a time out, just barely avoiding a delay of game penalty. On 4th and 2 at the Bluefield 19, Hicks ignored his sure footed kicker and the chance at 3 points. Perhaps a ten point lead did not seem secure to Hicks against this team. His gamble would come up short as Calfee was knocked back for a loss. Possession was given to the Beavers on downs.
Joseph Burks stopped Bluefield’s William Smalls for a 2 yard loss. Barnett carried for 7. Simon threw over the head of this receiver and out of bounds. Bluefield punted for a 35 yard net after Scott’s 5 yard return.
Hicks illustrated the ‘pass from strength’ principle here as Roop rolled right and passed to King for a 21 yard gain. Justin McGuire carried for 3. Roop kept the ball for no gain. Roop dropped back to pass and with Beavers closing in, threw incomplete to avoid a sack. Peaslee punted into the endzone, with a net punt of 16 yards.
The Cougars were offsides and spotted Bluefield 5 yards. Simon keeps right for 4 on what might have been a busted play. Again, the Cougars are offside and give away 5 yards.
Simon dropped back to pass on target to Amaker down the right hash mark, but Scott read it perfectly and made the interception.
Calfee took the dive for 20 yards to start the two-minute-drill for the Cougars. Roop dropped back to pass but was sacked, so PC is happy to let time expire and take their 7-0 lead to the locker room.
PC started the second half with a convincing 7 play drive to take a commanding lead. Scott returned the kick 29 yards to the PC 38. Calfee went for 2, then 9, then Scott carried for 4. The Cougar offense pushed forward again for another long gain to the Bluefield 29. Scott ran through a huge hole then cut back to the left and was sandwiched between two defensive backs just as he crossed the goal line for an 18 yard TD. The extra point attempt was blocked, but PC lead 13-0 with 8:24 remaining in the third quarter.
Bluefield answered in five plays to keep the game tense. First, PC was offsides on the kickoff. Then, Amaker had a 45 yard return to the Beaver 48. Barnett rushed for a 22 yard gain. Bluefield was then stopped for no gain. Simon took to the air and passed for 19 yards to Dwan Perry. Billy Hale slipped and was unable to cover the pass, but sprung back up to make the tackle. Barnett carried for 2. Perry got behind Calfee down the right hash and Simon threw to him for an 18 yard TD pass. The PAT was good and Bluefield was on the board and in the game with 6:06 remaining in the third quarter, down 7-13.
Nicki Hoback returned the kick 22 yards to the PC 44. The Cougars had the ball three plays then punted for 37 yards. Amaker fumbled the punt, but miraculously recovered the ball himself. Cougar McGuire had to be helped off the field by a teammate and a trainer after the play.
Amaker was stopped for no gain. Tremayne Bennett carried for 7. Barnett carried around the right end for 10 and a first down. The same play went to the left for 9. George Cook carried for 9. Barnett carried for 8 more and a first. Simon tried an option play to the right, but his pitch to Perry lost yards. Together, Hale and Miller met a Beaver back for no gain. Bluefield lost 5 on an equipment penalty, likely failure to use a mouthpiece.
On the last play of the third quarter, Marshall McMillan came up with the biggest play of the night. He came right into the backfield as Simon attempted to pass, stripped the ball from him, and recovered all by himself.
PC started at the Beaver 43 with a Calfee run for 3. An illegal procedure penalty took away 5. Roop rolled left, looking for a wide open King, but his pass was deflected at the line of scrimmage and fell incomplete. Porter carried the criss cross for 4.
The Cougars punted, but there were 13 Beavers on the field. A 15 yard penalty resulted and PC retained the ball, 1st and 10 at the Bluefield 26. Calfee ran for 11, fumbled, but Edmonds recovered for PC. Scott gained 9 to the 6 yard line.
A lucky bounce helped seal the win here. Calfee carried for 3 then was stopped, but fumbled into the endzone, where PC recovered for a touchdown. A two point conversion was attempted, but Roop was caught for no gain.
Amaker returned the kick 37 yards to the 38. Cook Carried for 4. Frank Cobbs, Jr. met Amaker in the backfield for a 6 yard loss. With 3rd and 12, a Simon screen looked promising and gained well, but a holding penalty was called, and the Beavers then faced 3rd and 29.
Bluefield tried a trick play, an overhand lateral by Simon to Perry, who then passed incomplete to Amaker, with Scott right there on coverage. Bluefield’s punt went for 20 yards.
The Cougars ran 10 plays, driving to the Beaver 7, running out most of the remaining clock time before the ball was turned over on downs.
Edmonds sacked Simon for a 5 yard loss. Then McMillan made the score look ‘clean’ with a 2 yard sack of Simon for a safety, bringing the final score to PC 21-7.
Bluefield had to free kick, then Roop kneeled to run off the clock for the first win of three consecutive tough road games for the Cougars.
BOX SCORE
Send Feedback about The Locker Room to jeffwolfe@cougarfootball.net