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PC defeats Graham in preseason action by Jeff Wolfe A Cougar is a territorial Beast. Class, can you say Geography? This wild animal will be Big Time by dominating its closest opposition. Click
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Football in Pulaski County has come home. Hopes are running high and the path to the State Championship run right behind new Cougar starter and Big Man, 6-7, 295 pound, junior, Ben Davidson. The Cougars have gone ‘Retro and Local’. We will patrol this 100 mile radius, and with it the bridge to State. Gone were the days when Dublin and Pulaski fought it out on the Gridiron with its closest geographic rivals, and each other. But happy days are here again. Not since consolidation has Pulaski County’s football team had this opportunity, to rule its own house. In the last decade the road to State has been through our back yard, but not through Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium. Powerhouses have been State contenders right in our back yard, within 100 miles of the Cougar Den. Consider that VHSL’s Salem, and WVHS’s Bluefield, have been the teams to beat in their respective leagues. But our games with them in the past haven’t been for all the marbles. They were almost exhibition games, when your biggest worry was power points for the playoffs. Gone are the days when Big Game will roam through our back yard without having to answer to Head Coach Joel Hicks. Gone are the days when the Cougars make their preseason appearance at the beloved little stadium, Soldier Field of our Dublin High School glory. This 2001 preseason opener was played in Mitchell Stadium in ‘The Bluefields’. The grand old man of high school football in this area is Mitchell Stadium, the real Big Time. It is the most hotly contended high school football field in American history. Two Countries, two states, two cities, two teams, one field. During the Civil War, West Virginians were Yankees and Virginians were Confederates. Bluefield HS and Graham HS share Mitchell as their home field. They fight each year to control their own, indeed, the same exact house. No high school match up in America has this kind of heat. Over one hundred years ago, West Virginia as a State left Virginia as those counties chose to remain with the Union. When the home-home game is played between Graham and Bluefield, it is truly brother against brother. The trip to Mitchell is a familiar one, but the significance has always been different. PC has played Bluefield there, but not Graham. The fans across the way were always from ‘the other’ state, until this Friday night. Its about our back yard now, Virginia. The players chanted their anthem in the locker room after the game. “Who are we? Cougars! What do we want? State!” Another familiar game in a well known location awaits, in Salem’s Municipal Stadium. The Cougar has been sowing its wild oats since consolidation, ignoring the teams in its own back yard for ‘district competition’. Now is the Big Time in Our House. Daddy’s home, Spartans beware! Retro and Local are the new words Cougar Fans. And coming up next week are Touchdown Classic conflicts with Varina, Fauquier, and Franklin County. Old enemies are now new friends as they help us tune up for conflict in Our House. Its time to clean out the back yard! Pulaski County defeated Graham tonight 35-34, but the game wasn’t that close. PC jumped out to a 21-0 lead, but let the G-men back in with pre-season mistakes. The Cougar offense racked up rushing yards, while the defense left Graham’s running game anemic. A large point swing came on an apparent Alan Wheeling touchdown, where he fumbled inches from the goal line, and the G-men returned the fumble 100 yards for a touchdown. Graham scored on a long pass play, but could not build a consistent passing game. The Wheeling to TE Matt Roan connection opened up an offense still limited by early season practice time. Roan caught a beautiful over-the-shoulder rainbow pass for a huge gain. More practice reps are needed to complete the Cougar running game. Several key package plays are still ahead on the practice schedule. Yet the Wing-T had its way all night with Josh Calfee leading the rushing effort. The deciding margin was a failed late fourth quarter two point conversion attempt. The G-men lined up swinging-gate style left, and ran a 4 on 4 play to the right, but were stopped well short of paydirt. There were no kickoffs in this exhibition game. PC had enough time to drive from their own 35 into Graham territory, but ran out the clock. Wheeling ended the hopes of the G-men with a third and long designed keeper left. He was met with a wall of defenders, so reversing field he turned the corner right for the first down conversion. Big Time is right. Consider Cougar offensive lineman Ben Davidson. This was his first starting effort. PC has never had a starting offensive lineman of this size. No one could be more excited about Davidson than career Cougar rushing leader Calfee. “He’s the man! Six trap and 35 belly go right behind him.” “We made too many mistakes tonight,” Davidson noted. “This was my first start. It wasn’t too bad. Tough practice has prepared us.” Watch Davidson Cougar Fans! If he can elevate his game to the size of his frame and have an all-District, and all-Region performance, then “Welcome to the Woodshed”, Pulaski County will be Division 4 State Champion, and Calfee will put up his best single season rushing performance this his Senior year. Senior Travis Williams is will be playing both ways , Tight Tackle on offense and Sam Tackle on defense. “They were a physical team and gave us a good game. Their offensive lineman sealed us from the outside on the sweeps. We need to get ready for Varina, Falquier, and Franklin this week.” John Hedge has branched out to punting duties, and he kicked some whoppers tonight. He seems to have the kind of leg where you worry he might out punt his coverage team, a true asset. He was also 5 for 5 on PAT’s, with Roan snapping and John Harmon holding. Harmon joins Roan and Hedge who worked together last season. Yes Cougar fans, Football is here. We will compete against teams where you live and work, the New River Valley, The Roanoke Valley, and all of Virginia. There is a new Beast in the Blue Ridge District!
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