The Locker Room September 20, 2002

Game Pictures by Steven Marcus

View From The Stands by Ardent Cougar

These young Cougars posted an inspired comeback tonight against William Fleming, but it was not enough.  Despite a Colonel offensive line averaging over 300 pounds, the Cougar defense played well enough to win.   A punt return on the 5th play of the came turned out to be the deciding margin in Colonel’s 26-20 victory. The Colonel defensive line prevented strait-ahead running with their size and strength.  More notable was the play of the Fleming linebackers. They made countless ankle tackles, some even after being blocked to the ground.  
 

“They always had a backer there, in the hole, and they hit me in the legs,” said Derrick Burks.

PC punted after their first three plays, and Colonel Mijuan Curtis returned the punt 83 yards to open scoring.

On the Cougar’s second series, sophomore wingback Ernie Hodge carried after the criss cross handoff for an 8-yard gain and a first down.  

The Cougars were called for illegal procedure, couldn’t gain significant yardage rushing, and would punt.

It was about this time that the home announcer reminded certain fans that it was time to sit down in front.  Apparently the PCHS administration feels that an enthusiastic student body should not be standing for their classmates on the field.  With in several minutes, the students were escorted by school administrators out of their chosen seats.

Stop: Editorial Time!  I have never been to any sporting event where the back of the admittance tickets said, “please sit during the performance”.  

The comment by the announcer instructed them so sit down, in respect to the other customers.  Since when do students get in free? The students pay for tickets.  PAY.  The people being asked to sit were seated in the bottom rows of the home side, center. 

Most of us Cougar fans are PCHS Alumni, Dublin Alumni or Pulaski Alumni.  Most of us were football fans in high school and attended games when we were students.  It must be something positive we experienced during those times in our lives that keep us as Cougar fans.  This removal wasn’t positive for our community.

This writer knows several prominent community leaders who have chosen to live in the New River Valley instead of Roanoke, Richmond or DC because of the community experience of Friday night’s in Pulaski County.

I doubt that the students removed from their seating feel much affection for Pulaski County at this moment.  Where do future ticket purchasers come from?  The student body, that’s where!  

The removal of the students was unnecessary.  It was done for their standing and no other reason.  There were some ‘boos’ given out, but too few.

The time has come for a student reserved section. Not where students are forced to sit, but a place to sit or stand as their emotions lead them, where they can express their enthusiasm for their classmates.

The football players, cheerleaders, and band members are the future of our county, and so are the rest of the students.  Youth in trouble are not students who have something to do on Friday night but those that have ‘nothing better to do’ than find trouble. Kicking students out of the stands takes away their wholesome intents.

Today’s students are tomorrow’s “customers”.  Turn them on to the experience, Virginia, not turn them out!  

Fleming put together a 10-play, 80-yard drive, all on the ground.  The only third down was the scoring play, with Lorenzo Lewis carrying for a 2-yard score.  The key play was a 19-yard carry by Donnell Blake to the Cougar 3. Joel Linkenhoker’s PAT was good for the 14-0 lead.

Fleming’s kickoff went out of bounds and the Cougars would start from their own 35.  PC put together a 12-play drive, their best drive of the night.  

On third down a swing pass right from Britt Shumate to Brandon Anderson gained 20 yards, into Colonel territory.  Derrick Burks carried for 9-yards on the next play.  The criss-cross to Hodge went for no gain.  Burks converted the first down with a one yard carry.  Three plays later Anderson carried around the right end for a 28-yard gain to the 3.  Two plays later Burks carried the ball in from the 4.  Hodge’s PAT was good to pull within 7 points with 6:40 remaining in the half.

On the following kickoff, Ray McClanahan sparked a defensive stand with a hard tackle on the return man at the 20.  The Cougar Defense held the Colonels to a 4th and 1 and the Colonels punted to the PC 41.   Three plays later Shumate threw right on a slant pattern to catch Anderson for a 53-yard touchdown reception. Hedge’s PAT was good, to tie the game, 3:58 remaining in the half.

The momentum of the game had shifted.  The drill bit of persistence had opened a geyser of Cougar enthusiasm, both on the field and in the stands.  David had a chance against Goliath in the Cougar Den.

The Cougar Defense held the Colonels to 3 plays and a punt.  However, Anderson lost the handle on the punt and Fleming recovered.

The Colonels would score three plays later on a 10-yard run by Lewis.  On the PAT attempt, the holder felt the pressure of the rush and attempted a pass that fell incomplete.  Colonels 20-Cougars 14.

The Cougars could not move the ball after the kickoff, and time expired in the half.

WF was stopped by the Cougar D after three plays.  Fleming punted to the Cougar 34.  

Burks carried for 5 yards.  Then Shumate threw to Anderson on a 5-yard curl, and Anderson added 10 more after the catch.  However, holding was called on the line.  Hodge would punt two plays later.

Big D stopped Fleming again, and Anderson fielded the ball and was tackled at the Colonel 47.  

Two plays later, PC was penalized for having 12 men in the huddle.  Soon afterward, Hedge punted to the 15.

Donnell Blake carried for 43 yards to the Cougar 42.  Three plays later he carried again for an 18-yard TD.  The Colonels planned to try for 2, but were penalized for illegal participation.  They tried again, and WF QB Taurus Boyd rolled left, escaped several tacklers for an 18-yard conversion, but it was called back due to holding.  On the third attempt for the conversion from the Cougar 29, a reverse went for only 10 yards, WF26, PC14.

The Cougars drove to the 21, but fell short on 4th and 5.  Hodge had a step on the defender in the left corner of the endzone, but the ball was thrown just out of his reach.  9:37 remained in the game.

The Cougar D held WF to 3 and out.  Anderson called for a fair catch at the Cougar 48.  Seven plays later, Shumate threw a 29-yard touchdown strike to Anderson down the right sideline.
 

“The play was set up, and we changed it at the line,” said Anderson.  “I had the corner beat, but the ball was underthrown and I came back for it,” he added.

Shumate described the play change.  “It was a hitch, but coach Hicks yelled from the sideline to make it a streak.  They were playing man coverage. They were in zone the first half,” he added. Shumate had a good night passing.  “I didn’t have anybody in front of me,” he said.  “I had plenty of time to throw.  I’m relaxing now, trusting my line, trusting my receivers more.”

The PAT was wide left, WF 26, PC 20 with 5:56 remaining.

The kickoff was returned to the 24.  The Colonels earned a first down before trying to find the self-destruct button.  A successful sweep right was called back due to holding.  WF fumbled on the next play, picking the ball up, fumbling again, and the Cougars recovered on the Fleming 33.

Burks was stopped for no gain.  Fleming got in their best pass rush of the night, sacking Shumate for a 9-yard loss.  Shumate’s pass to Anderson, deep down the right sideline was intercepted, effectively ending the game, and the hopes of an energized Cougar Nation.

The Cougars are young, and made great gains tonight.  PC will be in action again Saturday afternoon against Blacksburg.  Indian Alumni will be present to decommission the Indian mascot for the newly chosen Bruin.

A Senior Cougar player who was injured earlier in the season has been dismissed from the team for failure to attend multiple practices.  Don’t look for him to return.  

Game Pictures by Steven Marcus

View From The Stands by Ardent Cougar