From The Bleachers 2002: Week Six by Ardent Cougar
Series:
PC
leads 15-9, winning the last 3 encounters, including a pair of victories
in Salem Stadium.
Region
III District Standings
Are you a "customer," or are you a FAN? At the last home game two weeks ago, when the announcement over the PA used that word - "customers" - regarding a certain situation, did that strike you as being just simply WRONG? If so, you were not alone. Football is neither a golf match, nor a concert, nor a play, nor a lecture on world politics, nor anything else where you are supposed to remain quiet, and in your seats. Whatever the total truth of the "cheering incident" at the Fleming game, something was very clear. A decade ago, before the Cougars won their State Championship, do you think that any such announcement regarding any similar situation would have involved the money oriented, emotionally detached phrase, "customers"?? You know the answer to that one. According to this post on the Va. Preps AA Message Board, there will be a special student section roped off. I applaud this, as I think it is long overdue. This is a tough year, to say the least. You have to go all the way back to 1978, to find a season where PC started out 1-4. Unless a miracle happens, with us sweeping the rest of the season, and the right teams winning games for us (and even then I don't know how possible it would be), there will be no playoffs. Right now, we are scrambling to avoid a losing season. The Salem defense has allowed less than 9 points per game, not counting the 20 points Brookville scored in 6 overtimes, in the opening week. The Spartan offense has had some problems, but they are very close to being 3-1, instead of 2-2. The Cougar defense has had to deal with an offense that has not kept the ball long enough. No matter how good your defense might be, when you are asked to go back on the field after a 3-and-out, time and time again, it has an effect. Of course, when you have certain players leaving the team for one reason or another, including one of your all-time top rushers, you know that not all is right with the team. I don't know what plans Joel has this week. Of course, plans only get you so far. We have been unable to consistently control the line of scrimmage, on the offensive side of the ball. Without great play from the 'strength' players, the 'skill' players don't have open holes to run through, or time to pass. It is taking longer for these young men to develop, than we had hoped for. It is still a young team. Next year, I am sure it will be a different story. As do all "armchair quarterbacks," I have ideas that I think could help the team. When things are not going right, few can resist the impulse to put in their two cents worth. But I remember that I am in the stands, while the coaches and players are the ones who are in the meeting rooms, on the practice fields, in the weight rooms, and walking down those steps, to the music of '2001'. Last year, Salem and Pulaski met twice, contesting first the Blue Ridge District Championship, then the Region III Championship. This year, at least for Pulaski County - it's about pride. So when you come out to Dobson Stadium this Friday night, ask yourself this question: "Am I a customer,
or am I a FAN?"
Newspaper Articles on Salem's games: No offense, but Salem prevails Spartans' rally finishes incomplete
.
It was a hot day, but the Cougar offense was stone cold. For the first time since 1998, PC was the victim of a shutout. The Indians controlled the line of scrimmage, and were able to move the ball more effectively. Both sides had trouble in the first half; both teams went to their respective lockerrooms scoreless, the first time in quite a while that the Cougars had been involved in such a game. On PC's first possesssion in the thrid quarter, a punt by John Hedge that hit the back of one of the blockers in the backfield (who had been pushed backwards by a Blacksburg rusher) went only 17 yards, giving the Indians very good field position. Not long afterwards, with the help of a couple of penalties, Blacksburg scored. In the 4th quarter, a controversial "dual possession" call turned a John Harmon pickoff into a completed pass. A couple of plays later, Harmon was outmaneuvered on a sideline pass and fell down, and Cory Price took it the distance to make it 14-0 with 9:07 left. Blacksburg added a 19-yard scramble by QB Byron Hurdle with 57 seconds left, and the final was 20-0. It is a very unusual game, when PC's leading rusher for a game gets 46 yards (Brandon Anderson). The Cougars averaged a sickly 2.8 yards per carry. The passing game did not respond well either; Britt Shumate was 3-for-11 for 45 yards (40 of those yards to his favorite target out of the backfield, Anderson) and an interception near the end of the game (during desperation time). The O-line was simply unable to provide consistent blocking for either part of the offense. The Cougars spent very little time in Indian territory, and never really threatened to score. In yet another rare occurrence, Hedge was outkicked by his counterparts, who averaged over 3 yards better than John. The defense played very well, but wore down as the game went on. Full Story and Interviews (Indians Scalp Cougars) Indians building their own legacy
Colonels
sack the Cavs' offense
Previous 2002 Articles: FTB
Week One - Tazewell
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