The Locker Room
September 5, 2001


From The Bleachers 2001:
Week Two
by Ardent Cougar

Friday, September 7 - Petersburg Crimson Wave (Home):

Series: PC leads 4-0, having won each game by at least 10 points, including 2 shutouts. The average score has been 39-7.
Last meeting: 1995 at PC. The Cougars routed Petersburg for a third straight time, 44-8.
 
Rating
Week
Change
Overall
Standing
Division
Standing
Division
PC
94.96
+5.05
5th
1st
Div. 4
Petersburg
54.14
NC
124th
26th
Div. 5

Region III District Standings
 

Petersburg plays in the Central Region, as a member of the Central District.  Last season was not kind to the Crimson Wave, as they finished 3-7.  This is a key team to watch the rest of this season, as they are AAA (giving 12 VSHL points for a win), and play a full AAA schedule (except for PC), so if the Cougars beat Petersburg, every game they win against those AAA opponents would give PC a rider point. 

The offense looks even better than last year, despite the absence of Frank Cobbs, Jeff King, Mike Alderman, etc. QB/CB Alan Wheeling is a strong, intelligent team leader.  Josh Calfee looks as powerful as ever, leaving potential tacklers in the dust.  With Greg Cobbs and Jeremy Porter in the backfield as well, it's a quadruple-headed monster.  Add some timely passes to TE Matt Roan, and you have the picture of a very formidable ground attack, that can be 'seasoned' with a few trips to the air, should teams stack 8 or 9 men on the line.

The defense has not been tested against a good passing attack yet, so it's probably too early to say much, there.  But, the run defense looks solid, and special teams do as well.

I must say that I expected something of a dropoff this season, because of the Seniors we lost.

Both in the 'preseason' and in the first game, I have seen no such dropoff.

I have seen what appears to be - an even better team.
 
 
Blue Ridge
District
Week
Change
Pulaski County
94.96
+5.05
Salem
87.44
-2.87
Northside
70.84
-3.34
Lord Boutetourt
66.99
+2.41
Blacksburg
62.54
+4.52
William Fleming
59.56
-2.91
William Byrd
59.56
+2.29
Alleghany
54.49
-2.70
Christiansburg
37.79
+3.27

 
Upcoming
Cougar
Opponents
Week
Change
Christiansburg
37.79
+3.27
William Fleming
59.56
-2.91
Blacksburg
62.54
+4.52
Salem
87.44
-2.87
Lord Boutetourt
66.99
+2.41
William Byrd
59.56
+2.29
Alleghany
54.49
-2.70
Northside
70.84
-3.34

Week One Review - Friday, August 31 - Tazewell Bulldogs (Away):

Game Story

The Cougars looked extremely sharp, in blasting a Tazewell team that really did not beat itself.  It was simply a case of a steamrolling.  Josh Calfee had 4 TDs, and almost 200 rushing yards, on only 9 carries, in just over 3 quarters of offensive play.  One of his scores came on a 52-yard screen pass.  Alan Wheeling returned a punt 54 yards for a TD. Jeremy Porter scored as well.

When was the last time a PC QB (Wheeling) passed for 3-digit yardage?  When was the last time a Cougar running back (Derrick Burks) came in for "mop-up duty", and rushed for 100 yards, including a pair of scores?  The Cougars beat the 'Dawgs' in every phase of the game.  The 59-0 lead was the biggest in PC history, and if not for a 78-yard TD run by Tazewell with under a minute to go, this would have been the greatest margin of victory.  Instead, the 52-point margin is tied for second, and the 59 points scored is also in second place.

Wish the Bulldogs luck for the rest of the season, as 7 of their games could mean rider points for PC.
 

Previous 2001 Articles:

FTB Week One

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