Game Pictures by Steven Marcus

View From The Stands by Ardent Cougar

Pulaski County took to the air in the first half to defeat the three time defending State Champion Salem, 40-13.  It was a symbolic changing of the guard for VHSL’s division 4, AA.

Alan Wheeling was 3 for 3, for 97 yards passing, all coming in the first half.  His 51-yard TD pass to Derrick Burks loosened the Salem defense for the running tandem of Josh Calfee and Jeremy Porter.

Wheeling had a hat trick, three interceptions; one returned 55 yards for a touchdown, in addition to his TD pass.  The interception came with only a few seconds in the half, and he just crossed the goal line as time expired.  Adding insult to injury, the half ended with a Wheeling two-point conversion pass to Nester.

The Cougar Team Spirit emerged tonight, returning to its old haunt after being chased away by the ghost buster upset at Northside four weeks ago. 

“All the seniors and underclassmen starters meet in the shower on Fridays.  We used to yell and push each other around, but now we just use that time to concentrate on doing our jobs,” said Gordon Cross.

A two-way starter for the Cougars was suspended from school since the last game.  Reliable sources say that this young man had attendance and disciplinary problems.  The Replacements had stellar performances tonight.  Lucas Nester and Derrick Burks filled the wingback position.  Nester has played second team wing in this year’s blowouts.  Burks played wing in preseason, but was moved back only this Monday.  Matt Roan got the starting nod at the vacant defensive position.

Salem won the opening toss and deferred to the second half.  The first quarter was a defensive battle, with John Hedge punting three times, and Nic Schmitt returning three salvos. 

The Cougars started their scoring drive at their own 14 with 23 seconds remaining in the first quarter.  On 3rd and 3 at the PC 21, Wheeling threw a flare pass right to an undefended Calfee out of the backfield for a 30-yard gain.  This broke the three-and-punt pattern for the Cougars on the night.

This 12-play, 86-yard drive ended with a bit of luck.  Porter had a 4-yard touchdown, but he had the ball stripped at the 2, crawling to cover it in the end zone.  Hedge added the PAT, 7-0 Cougars.

It took the Spartans three plays to reach the PC 12. 

Roan responded by taking his game to the next level, showing the Cougar Nation why Wake Forest is recruiting him.  Roan sniffed out a pitch left to Austin Casey for a 2-yard loss.  Salem lost momentum and was called with a delay of game penalty.  Then Roan came off the end on a blitz and slung QB Billy Cameron down for a 10-yard loss.  The next pass was incomplete at the goal line.  Schmitt’s 47-yard field goal attempt was not good, a short and low bullet.

“In the shower meeting, we said ‘Don’t want it for anyone else but yourself,’” said Roan. 

The Cougars were three and a punt, but a Spartan returner fielded the ball poorly.  It went through his hands, hitting his knees and bouncing forward where it was recovered by Nester at the PC 48.

Two plays later, Wheeling showed play action left, rolled out right into the pressure of three defenders, but still was able to find his second receiver in the passing progression, Burks, for the 51-yard TD.  Burks used some fancy stepping on the last several yards, but was penalized for skipping out of the end zone, excessive celebration.  This made for a long PAT attempt for Hedge, which was not good, PC 13-0.

“Usually that pass goes to the tight end,” said Burks.  “The corner tried to trip me before the catch, but he fell and I blew by him.  I don’t know why I got the penalty, I just tried to do what Porter does,” he added. But Porter imitates Walter Payton, not Skip-to-my-Lou.

Four plays later Wheeling notched his first interception of the night.   Two plays after that Porter broke free for a 54-yard TD romp.  The two-point conversion pass was incomplete when Roan was hit during the throw, but interference was called.  Burks got the call from the 1-and-a-half yard line, but was stopped right at the goal line, PC 19-0 with 56 seconds remaining in the half.

The half appeared over, but the Greatest Interception Return in Cougar History was still to follow.  Wheeling intercepted a Cameron pass at the PC 45, crouching low and on the run.  Then at full speed he cut left to the sideline and at the 30 he turned past three Spartans with poor attack angles.  He cut back toward the center of the field at the 15,  stumbled at the 7, and smashed Cameron at the goal for the score.  He was tackled as he fell over the goal line, just as time expired in the half. 

“This game was won up front.  On defense, they couldn’t run on us.  Then we put pressure on the quarterback, and forced bad throws,” said Wheeling.  “He overthrew his receiver this time, and I picked it off, ran my heart out to the sideline.  When he was trying to make the tackle at the goal line, there was no way I was going to go down,” he added.

Wheeling threw to Nester for the two-point conversion, PC 27-0 at the half.

Salem took their first possession of the second half for a 5-play scoring drive.  Reico Jordan carried for a 39-yard touchdown, but Schmitt’s PAT was blocked by Chris Denny.

Five plays later Calfee answered with a 63-yard touchdown.  Illegal procedure was called on Davidson on the PAT attempt, and the 23-yard Hedge PAT was no good, PC 33-6.

After an exchange of punts, Wheeling intercepted his third  pass of the night at the 30, with a 4-yard return. 

Four plays later Porter carried for a 26-yard score.  Hedge’s PAT was good for a 40-6 Cougar lead.

Casey had a 1-yard score for the final 40-13 margin.

The Cougars took a knee on the last play of the game.

Northside Coach Jim Hickam presented the Region Championship trophy to Coach Joel Hicks at the midfield ceremony.  The Salem players seemed gracious in defeat, with gentlemanly congratulations all around.

“We lost our enthusiasm a little bit, but picked it up the second half last week,” said Ben Davidson.  “Getting the intensity up isn’t a problem against Salem.  It was a real hard fought game.  Both teams wanted it so bad.”

“This was big,” said sophomore starting corner Brandon Anderson.  The Spartans threw short passes his was all night, to receivers much larger and taller.  “I had to hit them low and bring them down any way I could,” he added.

The Scarlet Hurricane of Marion defeated Magna Vista tonight.  Expect the quarterfinal game to be played Friday night instead of Saturday afternoon.  The best reason for this is the competing needs for police security at both the VHSL game, and the Saturday game between Virginia Tech and University of Miami in Blacksburg.  The decision will be announced Monday.

Game Pictures by Steven Marcus

View From The Stands by Ardent Cougar