From The Bleachers 2000:
Week Nine
by Ardent Cougar

Friday, October 20 - Off Week

The Cougars take a well earned break this week, resting up before the game of the year (so far!), the battle with the likely-undefeated-as-well Patrick Henry Patriots.

Official Northwest Region VHSL Power Ratings:  No. 3 in Division 5
AP State Poll (10/18):  No. 5 in AAA, No. 2 in Division 5
Gilliam's Ratings:  No. 5 overall, No. 5 in AAA, No. 2 in Division 5.  Rating:  87.26

Average beginning score:  19-0  (best: 54-0  worst: 0-3)
Average biggest lead score:  40-5  (best: 54-0  worst: 21-0)
Average biggest deficit score:  3-5  (best: 6-7  worst: 0-3)
Average final score:  43-12  (best: 54-0  worst: 35-21)

Average Cougar rushing game:  50 rushes, 417 yards, 8.33 yards per carry
Average Opponent rushing game:  29 rushes, 111 yards, 3.81 yards per carry

Average Cougar passing game:  2 completions, 4 passes, 0 interceptions, 27 yards, 6.87 yards per attempt
Average Opponent passing game:  8 completions, 19 passes, 2 interceptions, 111 yards, 5.71 yards per attempt

Average Cougar punt return:  15.36 yards
Average Opponent punt return:  1.43 yards

Average Cougar kickoff return:  20.92 yards
Average Opponent kickoff return:  19.88 yards

Average takeaway margin:  +2
Average penalty yard margin:  -28

If you would like to get your Friday football fix this week, you have several options.  Here are the ones involving RVD teams:

If you relish another trip to Rocky Mount, and would like to join our coaches in the stands, Franklin County hosts Patrick Henry.  This time, it's our turn to watch a key opponent's game with another district rival the week before playing them.

You might look ahead to the last game of the season, choose to drive a lesser distance, and watch Cave Spring host E.C. Glass instead.  Some of our coaches will probably be there as well.

Myself, I plan to head over to Perisburg, and watch the Giles Single-A Single-Wingin' Spartans host William Fleming.  Last year, the Colonels won going away 56-23, but at one point it was only 28-23.  This Division 2 vs. Division 5 matchup should be quite entertaining.  Gilliam's Ratings list Giles (63.65) as a 5-point favorite over Fleming (58.77).  I always enjoy seeing the single wing offense.

Go, Spartans!

Week Eight Review - William Fleming Colonels (Home):

Homecoming was kind to PC for the second straight year, and Friday the 13th was a "Nightmare on Slaughterhouse Road" for Fleming.  The Cougars broke the 3 game losing streak in the series against the Colonels 27-10, led by the great rushing duo Frank Cobbs (18 rushes, 173 yards, 1 TD) and Josh Calfee (20 rushes, 169 yards, 2 TDs).  Calfee, who now has 2813 yards for his career, passed Doug Hendricks by 7 yards to become No. 1 on the Cougar Career Rushing List.  Cobbs now has 2334 yards for his career, moving him past Craig Hodge into 5th place.  Frank also stretched his season record to 1536 yards, with two games left.  Greg Cobbs got more work with the criss-cross (4 rushes, 22 yards) than he has most of the year, and Jeremy Porter (4 rushes, 23 yards) got some reps late in the game.  He should be something to watch in his Junior season.

Team wise, it was another excellent night, with 398 yards on the ground and 40 yards through the air, with Wheeling going 2-for-3.  Alan completed a perfectly thrown pass deep down the middle to Josh Bowling late in the first half, setting up one of John Hedge's pair of field goals.  Aside from his duties of putting the ball between the uprights (2-for-2 FGs, 3-for-3 PATs), John had an excellent night kicking off as well, booming all but one kickoff into the endzone, ensuring that the Colonels began their drives deep in their own territory almost all game.

With the Cougars running on almost every play, and the combined passing efficiency of both quarterbacks (14-20-0), the clock kept moving in this contest, with PC getting 8 possessions, and Fleming only 7.

The Colonels came to town giving it all they had, and they were able to move the ball.  This team definitely has improved since the early season 28-0 loss at G.W. Danville.

After Demetrius Grant broke a long run on the first play from scrimmage, the PC defense tightened up against the rush.  On two trips inside the Cougar 15 in the first half, the Colonels settled for a field goal, and were stopped on 4th down.  QB Richard Barrett had an excellent night for Fleming, frustrating the Cougar defensive rush by scrambling well when flushed out of the pocket.  He completed 71% of his passes (12-17-0) for 133 yards, spreading the completions around to 7 different receivers.  PC did not give up the "bomb", however.  This experience was good for the team, in preparation for facing Patrick Henry QB Maurice Robinson (who threw for 228 yards against the Knights) and Cave Spring QB Jacob Lewis (135 yards passing against PH).

The Cougars once again won the battle of the takeaways, recovering a fumble which turned out to be the only turnover of the game.  It came at the Fleming 20, when the score was only 10-3.  Cobbs and Hedge then gave PC its 9th and 10th points in 20 seconds, when Frank went through a huge hole to paydirt on 1st down, and John added the PAT.

Penalties were again something of a concern.  A motion penalty on 2nd-and-goal at the 1-yard line made the Cougars settle for a field goal to lead 10-3, and a trio of yellow flags killed a drive in Colonel territory early in the 4th quarter when the score was 27-3.  Fleming then finally put a touchdown on the scoreboard, but it was too little, too late.

Jon Anderson came back for this game after being out over a month, having been injured in the E.C. Glass game.  It seems that the team is quite healthy, unlike the situation heading into last year's game against the Patriots, when even the off week did not help.