Pulaski County gets back into action again this week, as they travel back up Interstate 81 for another road game. This week the Cougars are walking into a hornet's nest, as the Cavaliers have a full squad of healthy players for only the second time this season.

Hello again Cougar fans, and welcome back to another week here at cougarfootball.net. After talking to Coach Turner last week it really seems like this past off week couldn’t have come at a better time, as several players were nursing injuries and illnesses after that tough and physical battle that took place two weeks ago at Jefferson Forest.

What a battle that one was!! The Cougar defense really came of age in that game, and while it was in no was a pretty win or a dominating game by either team through most of the game, it certainly turned in favor of Pulaski in the end. Three straight sacks to stop the Cavalier offense with under two minutes left in the game, followed by a great run for a first down on 3^rd and 6 by quarterback Luke Watson to seal the win. What a game!!

While the Cougars may have learned a lot about themselves in that game, it did leave them with some injuries to deal with also. Heading into this weeks game against Lord Botetourt, the Cougar coaching staff will be asking some younger players to step up to the challenge, as some of the normal starters will be limited to their playing time due to those injuries and the flu bug that has been going around the schools.

Pulaski County leads the series with the Cavs by a record of 4 wins, no losses, and in 1976 the Cougars and Cavs played to a 6-6 tie. The Cavaliers bring a 2 and 4 record this season into the contest, but that record is absolutely deceiving. The Cavs started out the season with a 24-7 win over James River, followed by a 20-42 loss at the hands of the Salem Spartans. The following week they lost to Hidden Valley by a score of 30-36, and then they lost to Brookville 0-36. That was followed up with a loss to a strong Patrick County team 24-36.

Normally, a person would see those losses and think “oh well, they’re a team having a down year”. Not the case here. The Cavaliers have played those four losses without the services of their seven best players, who were all injured in the second week game against Salem. The Cavs were playing well against the Spartans, but who can blame them for losing when they have their starting quarterback, their star running back, their best receiver, and then five other starters go down to injuries. In their first game with most of those starters back, the Cavs defeated the Blacksburg Bruins 20-17.

This is a dangerous team that the Cougars will be facing when the ball is kicked off on Friday night. Players to watch include their running back, #5 Zack Santolla, quarterback #8 Emory Straub, running back #9 Josh Colombini, and lineman #70 Patrick McNichols.

On offense, the Cavaliers have an excellent passing game and can run the ball well. They have moved the ball well at times in every game they’ve played, even with the injured players out. Defensively, they are a young team that only returned four starters. They have been hurt by big plays so far this season more than long drives. The Cavs do have excellent special teams, however, which could be a big difference maker in a close game. Last week against Blacksburg they returned a punt for a touchdown, and made a kick to win the game.

Pulaski County will have to have some players step up this week. This is the kind of thing that makes a win a true “TEAM” win. It has always been the belief of this team that if a man goes down, you put another gold helmet in his place and do your best. I expect we will see no less this Friday.

I hope to see the same type of crowd or better this week, as the Cougars continue to face each game one game at a time, one week at a time, and one battle at a time. Let's get out and make some noise this week, and let these young men know exactly how much we appreciate all of their hard work. It’s Cougar Football on a Friday night!! I can't think of any place I’d rather be.

GO COUGARS!!! BEAT THE CAVALIERS!!!