Pulaski County’s football season came to a disappointing halt Friday night in Salem Stadium as the Spartans advanced to the Region III, Division 4 final with a convincing 34-7 rout over the Cougars. Just a week ago, these two teams played a heartbreaker that came down to the last 11 seconds, as the host Spartans won by four. The Cougars felt that they were screwed, that once again the spirit of Salem, the “phantom flag” or whatever you may call it, struck again and took last game’s away from them. Instantaneously after that game-winning touchdown, the Cougars were foaming for another chance at the Spartans, a chance to take down the big boys; a chance to regain lost glory. The community, the school, and the entire program anticipated what may happen Friday night, they were definitely under the impression that the Cougars could play even better than they did, but it just wasn’t meant to be as the Cougars were simply thrashed by the faster Spartans. 

The Cougars knew what they had to do, but they could not get things to add up. Broken drives, turnovers, missed tackles, and missed opportunities cost them the game. Salem made many big plays, their defense played wonderfully as they stopped the Cougar offense time after time.

Quarterback Keith Gaines likely had his best game with 78 yards rushing on 12 carries and 140 yards through the air on nine of 15.  Many of his best runs and pass completions came at the end of scrambles when nothing was available at the outset of a play, but Gaines kept things alive with his feet until something materialized.

The Spartans owned this game from whistle to whistle, as they never trailed and definitely never looked back. The Spartans were also able to do something against Pulaski County that they could not a week ago, they were able to use their rushing attack. Fullback Cameron Chaney led the way with 74 yards on eight carries and tailback D’Juan Smith finished with 32 yards on 13 attempts. The Spartans totaled 328 yards in this game, and Gaines had a total offense of 228 yards and accounted for four touchdowns.

That sounds familiar- only three weeks ago did a quarterback by himself dominate the Cougars like Gaines did. Christiansburg quarterback Andrew Hoffer destroyed the Cougar defense, offense, and special teams with two interceptions, and five touchdowns just on the ground. Obviously, the Salem coaching staff did their homework as they probably watched the game and used what they thought would work.

To its credit, Pulaski County never stopped trying even when it was apparent that they had no shot in advancing to the region finals. Fullback Kevin Crouse led the way with 154 yards on 20 carries and one touchdown. Benji Poindexter carried nine times for 22 yards, Nubian Peak three times for 10 yards, and Ryan Brown three times for seven. Shay Dunnigan was one-for-one for nine yards passing, and Austin Twine was 0 for 5, with two interceptions through the air.

The 11 and 0 Spartans now move on to the Region final to face 10-1 Amherst County on Friday at Salem Stadium. The Lancers defeated William Fleming in a nailbiter, 13 to 12. The Colonels finish the season 8-2(0-1) and the Cougars finish 5-5(0-1).

Gaines came up with the first big play of the game on the very first possession. Following the opening kickoff, Salem was faced with a fourth and 12. Gaines dropped back to pass, and he could not find a receiver or find a space to run. He stayed alive until Mark Hanabury got open and the two connected for a 33-yard gain to the Pulaski County 30. It took the Spartans nine plays to move the final 30 yards against the very stubborn Cougar defense, but nonetheless, Gaines slithered over from five yards out to score. Jonathan Murphy kicked the conversion and it was 7-0 Salem.

The Cougars could not string a decent possession together as they found themselves punting to a very dangerous returner, Tony Spradlin. Spradlin fumbled the return and Trey Angle recovered for Pulaski at the Salem 31. The Cougars would not take advantage of this opportunity, that may have perhaps changed the momentum in the Cougars’ favor. On first down, a offensive penalty pushed the Cougars back five, on second down Zach Quesenberry bombed a blocking assignment and on third down, Benji Poindexter was thrown for a three-yard loss and the Cougars were too far out to try for a field goal, and decided to punt in the hopes of pinning the Spartans deep inside their own territory.

The strategy worked too, however, Salem put together a 12-play, 93-yard drive to go up 14-0 when Gaines scored again from five yards out. Chaney had runs of 14 and 11 on the drive, and Gaines had runs of nine, 14, and 20.

It looked as if the half would end that way, but the Spartans gave Gaines one more shot late in the half. He completed passes of 21, nine, 16, and 11 yards to move the ball to the Pulaski County 17 with the clock winding down. He then rolled left and scrambled backwards and through the heavy, Cougar rush for a much-deserved touchdown. There was only two seconds left on the clock.

That play sealed the deal for the Spartans, as they ended all suspense and wonder about the Cougars’ hopes of pulling an upset. The third quarter started difficult again for the Cougars who could not move again. However, the defense put the stops on Salem only to be flagged for a late hit at the end of a play that would have resulted in fourth and eight for the Cougars.

Four plays later Gaines found Spradlin running open down the sidelines, 10 yards behind the Cougar defender for a 31-yard touchdown and a 27-0 lead. From the point on until the final minute of the game, Pulaski County played well, began to move the football, and stop the Salem attack, but the Cougars did not get capitalize on any of their efforts.

In the final minute of the third quarter, Pulaski County was in possession at its own 17. On second down, Crouse ran for 10 and a first down at the 29. Two plays later, later at the 30, he blew off the right side through a huge hole and down the sideline he sped, outpacing the Salem defense to complete a 70-yard touchdown run to finally put the Cougars on the scoreboard. Luis Piscura kicked the conversion and with: 54 seconds left in the third quarter.

Following the kickoff it was three and out again for Salem, and the Cougars drove again. Peak ran for eight, and then Crouse bullied the defenders for 18. It then began to get tough, but Pulaski County was stopped on fourth down a foot short of the first at the Salem 13.

The issue was settled, Salem did go three and out on three consecutive possessions and the Cougars once again tried to capitalize but a Twine pass was intercepted by Hanabury, who returned the pick all the way to the Pulaski County 30. Three plays later, Chaney ran through a big hole off the right side to score from 23 yards out and put up the final 34-7 tally with just over a 1:23 left to play.

What a disappointing end to a somewhat dismal season; Pulaski County started and finished with consecutive losses, finishing at under the .500 mark for the season, but this team is extremely talented and many feel like that next year may be the year that the Cougars will reign supreme once again.

This loss was extremely difficult for the many seniors, who waited patiently to finally go to the playoffs, yet to be eliminated in the first round. These seniors are the heart of this football team, everyone of them deserves a lot of gratitude, respect, and acknowledgement that they did what three teams before them could not, they reached the playoffs!

This game was the last for many of the seniors; it is hard to finally quit playing something that they love so much. They live, breathe, talk, and breath football; life is football for many of them. Football is Pulaski County, and football will always be Pulaski County.

This year, with all of its difficulties, has been a true pleasure to write about. I have to learn many things that I would not otherwise. I also have to see the football team on both sides of the spectrum, as I wrote about wins, and losses. I wish that I could have started to write for Cougarfootball.net earlier, because it is hard to say goodbye. It has been wonderful to get a closer feel for what is Pulaski County football. Goodbye and Goodnight!!

GO COUGARS!!!!