From The Bleachers 2003: Week Eleven by Ardent Cougar
Series:
PC
leads 16-9.
Region
III District Standings
Sometimes, things just don't work out. A missed extra point was the losing margin for Salem last week. A showdown for a share of the River Ridge title was thus unfortunately nixed. Neither Salem nor Pulaski will make the playoffs, for two seasons running. You have to go back 22 years, to find the last time that happened. Both teams will have winning seasons. Pulaski County will have its 22nd winning season in 25 years, with no losing seasons during that span. Salem will have it's 17th winning season in 18 years, also without a losing season over those years. The Cougars turned their program around when Joel Hicks took the reigns in 1979, and Jack Turner is following in his footsteps, with a winning season in his first year. The Spartans also changed their fortunes, with the hiring of Willis White in the mid-1980s. Two great programs. A total of 5 State Championships between them. Two beautiful stadiums. Two rabid fan bases. Let's call this, the River Ridge Runner-Up Bowl Game. The place will be packed. The atmosphere will be electric. Hey. This IS Pulaski vs. Salem, you know. We make each other better. We always look forward to this game. If neither team was good, or only one team was good, it would not mean as much. When you beat Pulaski, or when you beat Salem, you know you have done something. You might not exactly like Salem. You might hate their guts! On the other hand - you know that they toughen up our game, by consistently providing a challenge. We do the same for them (albeit unintentionally!). Over the last 16 contests, it's dead even at 8-all. Let's win this one, a 5th straight victory in this hotly contested series, and celebrate. No, it won't be quite the same as witnessing Virginia Tech's demolition last Saturday night, of No. 2 Miami. I doubt that, if we win Friday night, we're going to jump over the wall, run yelling and screaming onto the field, looking to take down goalposts, or at least get a souvenir of the field. Winning
this one would still feel pretty good, though.
Newspaper Articles on Salem's games: Practice makes Spartans perfect Spartans turn battle into rout Salem's Shawver makes connections Edwards carries the Eagles past Warriors (Scroll for Salem-Brookville) Spartans
stay step ahead of Cavaliers
.
With the Cougar D leading the way, holding the Knights to a measly 54 yards of total offense for the evening, PC skewered the Knights 42-0. Derrick Burks had a spectacular game, rushing for 151 yards, and 4 scores. He thus passed Kwasi Scott for 4th place on the list of Top All-Time Rushers in Cougar History, and now needs 73 yards in his final game in a Cougar uniform, to pass Frank Cobbs for 3rd place. Brandon Anderson was not to be left out, netting 121 yards on the night. Brandon moved up to 9th place all time, passing Eric Webb and Jeremy Porter. Britt Shumate tossed a bomb to Steven Cobbs, for a 42 yard touchdown, the Cougars' first score. At the other end of the contest, Chad Thompson ran one in from 7 yards out, for the final TD. Luis Piscura made a perfect 6 of 6 PATs. Full Story and Interviews (Halloween Havoc Slights Knights) Liberty's Blake runs free in win (Scroll down for PC-Cave Spring)
Liberty's
Blake runs free in win (Scroll down for Christiansburg-Hidden Valley)
THE GAME Once a year we come to this point. Each year is different for each team. One year, Pulaski may be up and the Spartans may be down, or it could be the other way around. There have been seasons when one team was so dominant that the other stood no chance what so ever on paper, but at the end of the game the underdog had stood up to the task at hand. Overall this has been a great series. There have been close games, blow outs, and controversies. The one thing that has stood true for both teams is that this is THE GAME. This year is a little different for both teams. Neither team will see post season play. Both teams have played well at times, and both teams have had disappointing losses. Had Pulaski been able to beat EC Glass, they may have been in the playoffs. Had Salem beaten Blacksburg, they may have made it also. But neither team did. So with the knowledge that this is the last game of the season for each team, and the last game ever for the seniors, we head to Salem Stadium this Friday night. So what's left to play for? PRIDE. This game won't decide the winner of the first ever River Ridge District Title as many, myself included, thought it would. This game won't decide who gets a wild card or who gets home field advantage. This game is about nothing more than the Pulaski County Cougars versus the Salem Spartans. If you ask me, that's enough. I have a few things I would like to get out in the open in this last pregame article of the season. First, to the team I would like to say that I am proud of all of you and I have enjoyed watching you grow this season. On the first day of two a day practices I watched you take the field with a new head coach, and I have been there to see the work you've put into this season. Win or lose, I am proud of you all, and I appreciate all the effort you've put forth. To the seniors, you've been to this game before. You know what this game means. Go out there and do your best, and when you walk away do so knowing that you left it all on the field. Play this game for your team, play this game for your coaches, but most of all play this game for yourself. To the coaching staff, congratulations on a successful season, and know that we will be there next year to support you and the team again. And finally to the fans, I can only say the same thing I have said all year. These are our kids. This is our School. This is our program. If you haven't made it to any other game this year, make it to this one. Lets fill up that visitors side of Salem Stadium and let them know what COUGAR PRIDE is all about!!!!!! I would also like to take a moment for two final thoughts. I would like to thank Ardent Cougar, Steve, and Pete for letting me get involved with Cougarfootball.net this season. It has been a blast, and I hope to be able to continue on with it next season. Maybe now that I have a good camera Steve can even show me a thing or two in case he cant make it to a game sometime. And to the friends I have made over the past two seasons of tailgating, folks its been a blast. From the chicken and dumplings to the ribs and everything in between, it was a great time, and again I cant wait to see what gets added next year. So this is it folks, the Cougars versus the Spartans!!!! What a way to spend a Friday night!!!! See everybody
there, and lets get out there and make some noise for the Cougars!!!
Previous 2003 Articles: FTB
Week One - Northside
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