The Pulaski County football team did expect to tally yet another victory against Blacksburg, but not in the dominating fashion that they played tonight. They absolutely manhandled Blacksburg in every sense of the word, they dominated every side of the ball, every play, possession; everything belonged to the Cougars on this blustery cold night in beautiful Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium.

Where can I even start to even talk about how the Cougars played? Well, Pulaski County totaled 418 yards of total offense and 22 first downs. Blacksburg managed only 35 yards of total offense, just two first downs, never crossed the fifty, and had only 23 offensive snaps in the game. In contrast, the Cougars ran an amazing 73 plays from scrimmage thanks to the continued superb play of the amazing offensive line.

Fullback Kevin Crouse ran for 206 yards on 36 carries to go over the 1,000 yard mark on the season at 1,069 even though he has really only played in five games. Benji Poindexter ran for 73 yards on 13 attempts to move to 588 yards for the season. Freshman halfback Nubian Peak had his best game of the year as he rushed for 83 yards on only seven carries; in addition, he caught a 40-yard pass from Shay Dunnigan to finish with 123 total yards.

The defense got the ball rolling quickly for the Cougars. Austin Twine got his second pass interception of the season on the first series of the game and returned the football to the Blacksburg 32. Four plays later Crouse scored from 3 yards out, Luis Piscura kicked the extra point and drew first blood, 7 to 0.

Blacksburg could not move, and this trend would continue throughout the entire game. Following a punt, the Cougars started from their own 28. It took only 15 plays to cover the 72 yards and again Crouse scored form 2 yards out and it was 14 to 0 at the end of the first quarter.

Pulaski County got its third touchdown in as many possessions when it marched 90 yards in 15 plays midway in the second quarter and rang Blacksburg’s bell when Poindexter took a flip right and sped 11 yards into the end zone. Piscura’s kick made the score 21 to 0.

Blacksburg once again went three and out and following the punt the Cougars took over on their own 42. The Cougars decided to air it out, as Shay Dunnigan threw a booming pass to Nubian Peak at the Bruin 22. On the last play of this half, Piscura’s 28-yard field goal made it 24 to 0 at the break.

Blacksburg had only taken 15 snaps in the entire first half, other than punts. It would get worse in the second half as the Bruins were only on offense for miniscule eight snaps. Pulaski County opened the half with six first downs on an 18-play drive that reached the Bruin eight before being stopped on fourth down. The main reason was a 15-yard illegal-blocking penalty called on the Cougars. However, less than two minutes remained in the quarter and Blacksburg had not yet even had one play in the second half. The Bruins quickly went three and out.

Two possessions later linebacker Cab Cabaniss blocked a Blacksburg punt to setup a second Piscura field goal, this one from 29 yards out to extend the Cougars’ lead to 27.

In the fourth quarter, Coach Turner put in the backups. Peak popped a 30-yard scamper before the second team offense was stopped, but John McDaniel got the ball back for Pulaski County with his seventh interception of the season at the Blacksburg 46. Four plays later Peak blew off the right side and sailed 44 yards to the end zone with only 1:47 left to play. Piscura kicked the conversion again for the final 34 to 0 score.

The Cougar defense indeed had a field day against the struggling Bruins with its first shutout of the season. Outside linebacker Casey Turpin deflected three passes and had two sacks. Cabaniss added a third quarterback sack and the blocked punt. Brent Osborne added a fourth deflected pass, and Twine and McDaniel’s pass interceptions put the Cougars up to 12 for the season.

Pulaski County won their fifth game in a row, and improved to 5-2 and remained perfect in the district. This team is unbelievably talented and if we keep this style of play up, we will go back to the playoffs. But, we have three difficult games ahead with always talented Christiansburg, undefeated Cave Spring, and always tough Salem in the next three weeks to finish out this regular season.  This season has been anything but regular, please come out and support the Cougars this Friday night as they travel down I-81 to face Christiansburg.

GO COUGARS!!!!