From The Bleachers 2002: Week One by Ardent Cougar
Friday, August 30 - Tazewell Bulldogs (Home): Series:
PC leads 1-0.
Almost 9 months ago, Pulaski County traveled to Lynchburg, in search of a second State Championship. This Friday night, the Cougars begin their 24th season under the direction of Head Coach Joel Hicks, having said fond farewells to all-time leading rusher Josh Calfee, the ever versatile Alan Wheeling, and the rest of the 2001 Seniors, who gave us so much to cheer about, especially during their last two seasons. In the last 27 games, the Cougars are 23-4, including two losses to a pair of State Champions, in the State Playoffs. Two 9-0 starts almost made for the first undefeated season(s) for PC since 1993, but losses in the final week prevented the perfect marks, and left key players injured. However, this all seemed to put life into the Cougars once the second round of the playoffs began (after shaky first halves in both first round games). Many of those 23 wins were blowouts, with scores like 56-0, 56-6, 63-21, 62-12, and 69-20. The 2001 team broke the 1993 team's regular season scoring record, with a game to spare. Last year's Cougars especially, had great expectations put upon them. What do we make of this year's squad? According to Dan Callahan, this might well be the youngest team that Hicks has ever had at Pulaski County. If you watched both the Graham scrimmage, then the TD Classic, you could see definite improvement. It's quite possible that this year's edition will get off to something of a slow start, but progress nicely as the season moves along, like well-coached young teams should. Losing Josh Calfee hurt, to be certain, but ever since December, I have been concerned about who would follow Alan Wheeling as our signal caller. (We also graduated one of the best we had that hardly got a real chance to play - Alan's backup, Joey Radcliffe.) Junior Britt Shumate (No. 8) appears to be Hicks' choice. He looked a bit hesitant and nervous at times against Graham in the scrimmage (especially on certain passing plays), but definitely looked better and smoother at the Classic. One player we will see in the backfield, will be wearing No. 20. No, not Josh Calfee, but Ernie Hodge. I hear that Ernie actually requested the number! Perhaps that should not be surprising, as that name Hodge should sound very familiar. Remember Craig Hodge? Of course you do! (Speaking of family connecitons: You also recall the name of Frank Cobbs. Well, meet No. 10 for the Cougars this year - Steven Cobbs.) Jeremy Porter is back for his Senior Season, but with a different number - instead of No. 44, look for No. 3 this year. You might not have noticed, but Jeremy's team leading 1,486 yards, the second best ever, moved him into the Top 10. Of those in the Top 10, Jeremy Porter is 3rd on the all-time rushing list, in yards-per-carry. Porter currently occupies the 8th spot on that list, but could well end up 3rd, or even 2nd, by the time 2002 is done. He needs 921 yards to pass Frank Cobbs, and 1120 to leap into 2nd, past the record holder for nearly 13 seasons, Doug Hendricks. If Jeremy gets 829 yards or better (passing at least Kwasi Scott), that would mean the Cougars had 3 of their top 4 all-time rushers, on the team in 2000! One gets the feeling that the 2002 Edition of Cougar Football, might have the lowest amount of preseason hype since the 1991 squad, which followed a dismal 5-5 year. Of course, that first Wing-T season surprised a lot of folks, with a 9-3 record, losing in the playoffs to eventual State Champion Halifax. How will this team play? I think the running back situation, especially with the likes of Porter and Derrick Burks, will be just fine. I hope to see continued improvement from QB Shumate. Now, how will the young offensive line hold up? That remains to be seen. Defensively? I was pleased to see us get some nice QB sacks during the preseason, although at times when we did not get enough pressure soon enough, opposing receivers were able to find open spots. Brandon Anderson and John Harmon did seem to do a good job of pass coverage. As for the kicking game, John Hedge is back for one last campaign. His strong leg can punt PC out of holes, and put the opponents right into one! I would say that we can expect a good season. Beyond that, there should be enough talent to do better, provided that these young men work hard, believe in themselves, and listen to the coaches. Enough for the playoffs? Enough to win the BRD? To the best of my knowledge, other contending teams return more seniors - Blacksburg (although they lose QB Brett Smith, RB Jermaine Rogers, and WR/K Scott Sterrett), Salem (needless to say, always in the mix), William Fleming (hard-hitting defense, but can they score this year?), and Northside (Justin London is gone, but a lot of talent returning). It is said that Pulaski County does not rebuild, but instead reloads. I did get some feeling of that, watching the TD Classic. Without going out on a limb, I will say that I do not find another trip to the postseason, or even another Blue Ridge District title, out of reason. Speaking of the BRD - talk about a fine "how-do-you-do!" We just started Blue Riidge District play last year, and now it appears that we will, for 2003, have to move to yet another district! William Fleming is scheduled to suffer the same fate, and longtime BRD teams Salem and Blacksburg are also being given the boot. The rest of the Blue Ridge schools appear to be headed for what some of us like to call the APASAAC district. Roanoke Times story on the "split" (4 Blue Ridge schools appeal division of league) Those considerations are for another day. In
the meantime, enjoy a season of relatively low expectations. It might
well turn out a lot better than some think.
Rest
In Peace
|
