The Locker Room
by Jeff Wolfe
Cougars Dominate Eagles to
Win First District Game
BOX SCORE
10/10/98 - Pulaski County opened Roanoke Valley District play with a 55-14 win over Franklin County. Kwasi Scott and Josh Calfee both passed the 100 yard rushing mark. Travis Roop passed three times to Jeff King for 38 yards and one touchdown.
On the third play from scrimmage, Calfee took the dive right, broke a tackle, and got a downfield block from Roop on a 54 yard TD carry. Ashworth added the PAT.
Jason Perdue returned the kickoff to the FC 34. Nathan Angle optioned left and pitched to Perdue, who fumbled for a 14 yard loss. In the shotgun, Angle had the ball sail over his own head, but managed to gather it at the goal line and throw it down field where Scott was called for interference.
With 1st and 10 at their own 32, Angle optioned right then pitched to Perdue who could not control the ball, and Adam Brockmeyer recovered for PC. Three plays later, Scott ran right off tackle, then cut back toward the goal post for a 10 yard TD. Ashworth contributed the PAT for the 14-0 lead.
FC started at their own 24 after the kick off return. Angle tried again from the shotgun, but could not connect. The Brian Meador punt went for 50 yards to the PC 30.
Scott took the inside counter for 25. Then Roop delivered around Franklin County by bootleg for a dozen. Scott outran the defense to the right corner of the end zone for an 8 yard TD. Ashworth’s PAT was good.
The Eagle’s third drive was three plays, a penalty, and a punt. On third and 12 Angle led his receiver too much, resulting in an incompletion.
On 1st and 10 at the PC 49, Roop dropped back and threw deep down the left sideline, but it was just beyond Frank Cobbs’ reach near the goal line. With the defense loosened, Calfee took the ball ‘up the middle’ for a 25 yard gain.
Franklin County brought two linebackers at the center and smashed the criss cross for a 6 yard loss. This Eagle blitz started too soon on the next play, giving back 5 yards on the offside infraction. Scott would then take the quick pitch right and cut back left for a 26 yard touchdown. Ashworth’s PAT would finish the scoring for the first quarter, Cougars ahead 28-0.
FC started 1st and 5 at their own 22 after the Cougars were offsides. This was not enough of a head start, and three plays later, punting was again recommended.
Two plays later, Calfee ran for 34 yards. Then Roop threw between the two linebackers to Jeff King in the end zone for a 9 yard touchdown, add Ashworth’s PAT.
Angle would throw incomplete twice before Brockmeyer intercepted a pass and took it 30 yards down the left sideline for a touchdown. Ashworth had to round up the offensive unit and drive them onto the field for the successful PAT and a 42-0 lead.
Paul Taylor and the second unit jumped up for the kickoff, but then returned to the bench for a little while longer. Faced with 3rd and 13, Angle pitched the option to a wide out on a reverse that went for nine yards, not enough to prevent a punt.
It is one thing to ‘pass from strength’, but quite another to use a varsity opponent for ‘passing practice’. Roop threw to King for 12 yards, then again for 15 more. With the side show over, the play calling became serious again and the Cougars would complete the drive on the ground. Calfee carried for the TD from 9 yards out. Ashworth would score his seventh point of the night on the PAT.
The Eagles used a strange offensive scheme to drive down the field on the second team defense. The tailback would go in motion, deep in the backfield all the way to the sideline then stop. The quarterback would run to that side, considering a lateral pass to the tailback that could be thrown again deep. Angle ran this new option three times before himself throwing deep down the sideline for a 40 yard gain. It seemed like the Eagles would score but Daniel Keith intercepted a short pass by Angle into the corner of the end zone. The second team took their momentum swing to the locker room for half time.
The Eagles drove down the field for their first score, but only 5:48 remained in the third quarter on the fast moving clock. The PAT was good.
FC’s onside kick went for only 4 yards. The ‘Twos’ drove down the field with carries by Nicki Hoback and Justin McGuire. Hoback converted on a 4th and 1 with an 18 yard carry. McGuire carried for the 1 yard TD. Taylor’s PAT attempt was blocked, so the ‘Twos’ trailed 6-7 to the Eagles.
FC was stopped on the next drive. Then the Cougar ‘Also Played’ offense was three and out. FC’s Julian Gwynn scored from 6 yards out, and the PAT was good.
The onside kick was recovered by the Cougars' Jesse Rakes. The extras were driving to score when time expired. Second half score, Eagles 14, Cougar depth chart 6.
BOX SCORE