View From The Stands by Ardent Cougar

Pulaski County’s Cougars defeated the Alleghany Mountaineers Friday night 62-12.  Despite having one more district game to play at Northside next week, the Cougars became Blue Ridge District Champions with this victory.  The Cougars will have home field advantage through the first three playoff games.  The State Championship will be played in Lynchburg, at Liberty University, on Astroturf.  The Cougars are 1 for 1, and 1; one game played on Astroturf, one game won, and one State Championship won, on Astroturf. 

Expect Blacksburg or Pulaski County to be playing for the Division 4 State Championship.  Is that Relevant and Local enough for you?

PC surpassed the Cougar regular season scoring record, and with one game left to play.

On the second play from scrimmage, Mountaineer QB Matt Henderson threw the slant pattern left, only to have the ball find Cougar DB Josh Calfee for an interception.  On the next play, Calfee carried his stolen rock in for a 48-yard score.  Hedge added the PAT.

Alleghany ran the criss-cross double handoff play to Randall Allen for a 2-yard gain on their next possession, as well as throwing two incompletions.  Alan Wheeling returned the punt to the Mountaineer 47.

Jeremy Porter took his first carry of the game for 21 yards.  Three plays later the carried for a 27-yard touchdown.  Hedge’s PAT was good.

The Mountaineers returned the kickoff to their 19.  Matt Henderson had a 5-yard completion on first down.  A Cougar Defender blocked a pitch attempt in the backfield, but Allen recovered the loose ball.  Alleghany lined up to pass with trips left, throwing to a receiver on an immediate curl route for a one-yard gain

Starting at the Alleghany 43 after the punt, Wheeling threw down the middle for Cougar TE Matt Roan, but incomplete.  This was a bullet on its mark, but an arching pass might have given Roan a better chance at a catch.  Calfee ran for a seven yards, but was stopped for no gain on third down.  

At the Mountaineer 37, it was too close to punt and too far away for a Hedge field goal attempt.  Wheeling rolled right on a designed keeper, but would be stopped for no gain, and the ball would go over on downs.  

It is commonly said that when a team passes three things can happen, and two are bad.  This considers the events of a completion, an incompletion, and an interception.  But what about a sack occurring on a pass attempt?  Sometimes it can seem like the offensive play should be named ‘Roll Right into a Sack.’ 

Some pass attempts end in a quarterback scrambling for yardage.  Anybody remember EC Glass QB and Hokie RB Andre Kindrick?   

The designed run that looks like a pass is not really a pass play.  

Calling a pass play can take away the positive influence of a run for a short gain.  This writer asserts that when a pass play is called, five things can happen and three are bad.

There can be a positive aspect of an incomplete pass.  A pass gives something for current and future opponents to prepare for, other than the base offense.

The Mountaineers had stopped the Cougar offense, in part because a first down pass attempt that fell incomplete.  PC was leading by 14 early in a game that was billed to be a blow out.  With first down just barely into enemy territory, this situation met the definition of ‘Pass from Strength.’  

The Alleghany defense toughened on two plays, and that was the highlight of their game.  On the pass attempt, the Cougars stopped themselves with an imperfect throw and catch.  Here is to hoping the Cougars work on that this week.

Allen ran for no gain.  Then Greg Cobbs was called for pass interference, which gave Alleghany a first down at their own 49.  The Cougar Defense knocked down the next pass at the line of scrimmage.  A screen play to Allen was incomplete, as well as the third down pass.  The punt went to the Cougar 18-yard line.

Porter took the dive play 82 yards for a touchdown.  Hedge added the PAT for a 21-point lead.

Hedge kicked his touchback.  The Mountaineers had a delay of game penalty on first down.   Matt Roan tackled the quarterback for a loss.  Alleghany was called for delay of game, again.  Travis Williams sacked the quarterback at the Mountaineer 1 yard line.  

Wheeling returned the punt from his own 30 to the Alleghany 26, but the Cougars were called with a clip and would start in Mountaineer territory at the 41.

Five plays later, with 3rd and 7, Calfee carried off tackle right for an 8-yard gain.  Two plays later Calfee carried for an 11-yard touchdown, bulldogging his last tackler at the three.  Illegal procedure was called on PC on the PAT, but Hedge converted anyway for the 28-0 score.

Allen returned the kickoff to his own 20.  Alleghany ran the criss-cross play right for 9 yards.  A sweep right converted for the first down with a 2-yard gain.  Three plays later Cobbs intercepted the ball and fell on his back.

With the ball at the Mountaineer 36, Wheeling passed to Cobbs, but it went through his hands.  Three plays later, on 4th and 4; Calfee carried left for a 31-yard score.  The PAT was good, 35-0.

Alleghany was held to three and a punt.  Wheeling returned the punt 13 yards to the PC 43.  Porter ran for a 57-yard TD on the next play.  The Hedge PAT was good, 42-0.

The Mountaineers would earn a first down before throwing an interception to Calfee, who returned it to the Alleghany 30.  There was just enough time for Hedge to try a 47-yard field goal attempt on the next play, which was short.  That was the first half.

Cobbs had a 10-yard kickoff return to the PC 40.  Calfee ran for 60 yards and a touchdown on the next play.  The snap, hold and kick were good, Hedge made for the 49-0 lead.

Hedge had another touchback.  It was three and punt for the Mountaineers.

Five plays later John Harmon had an 11-yard TD run.  Hedge added another point, 56-0.

The much-exhaled second team kickoff unit came on, and Jamie Steger kicked a touchback.

The Mountaineers converted on fourth down with a fake punt pass by Gavin Hayes.  Henderson had a swing pass to Allen for an 11-yard TD.   Jayson Dalton responded by blocking the PAT attempt, 56-6.

“The tackle blocked down, and I came open.  I caught it with both hands,” said Dalton.

Harmon would score again on a 48-yard romp.  The PAT by Steger was no good, 62-6.

“We had the first team line in, the hole was big enough to drive a truck through,” said Harmon of his second touchdown run of the night.  “Durrell Burks and Matt McDaniel had good blocks on the play.” he added.

“It was 6-Trap and I blocked down on the five technique, and he cut off my block,” said Burks.  “He carried the ball down the line, there was no penetration,” he added.

“I was going through the hole, saw him and got my block,” said McDaniel.

Allen had a 2-yard run to score for the Mountaineers.  The two-point try was unsuccessful, as the QB rolled right on the keeper but was stopped short at the 1, PC 62-12.

Patrick Cole had a touchdown saving tackle on a Mountaineer player in the final seconds to keep the margin of victory at 50.

After the game, Coach Hicks congratulated his team on winning the Blue Ridge District championship.  He spurred them on to an undefeated season with a chant.  

Hicks says, “Undefeated, Undefeated,” and the team says “Cougars” until the locker room is in frenzy.
 

BOX SCORE

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by Jeff Wolfe

View From The Stands by Ardent Cougar

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