Game
Article The Pulaski
County Cougars made a much better showing in Saturday’s rain delayed
contest against the Northside Vikings, and while the Cougars didn't get
the win, they did earn some respect in the 17-9 loss. Say what you
want about the Cougar football team, but you can't say that they ever gave
up. The Cougars battled the Vikings until the final bell on Saturday, but
two big plays by Northside made the difference in the contest. Other than
Northsides first offensive play of the game, which went for 84 yards and a
touchdown, and a 34 yard third quarter touchdown pass the Cougars were
able to stand toe to toe with the reportedly bigger, faster, and stronger
Viking offensive line. On the
offensive side of the ball, the Cougars had more total yards (283 yards
for PC, 252 yards for Northside) and more first downs (18 for PC, 10 for
Northside). Pulaski was able to put together 145 rushing yards on 33
attempts, compared to 99 yards on 39 attempts by the Vikings. In the air,
the Vikings had the edge going 6 of 14 for 153 yards, while the Cougars
were 11 of 29 for 138 yards and an interception. The Cougars
took the opening kickoff, and after a Pulaski punt the Vikings went for
blood early with their 84 yard touchdown pass from Adam Hardister to Tyler
Fisher. The Cougars answered early in the second quarter when Marcus
Johnston hit Zack Akers for a 28 yard touchdown pass with 8:44 left in the
half. Northside was able to move the ball down the field, but were forced
to settle for a 32 yard field goal by Sean Joyner with 2:11 left in the
half. The Cougars
kicked off to the Vikings to start the second half, and the defense stood
strong and forced a punt. Pulaski was then forced to punt themselves, but
a booming Marcus Johnston punt pinned the Roanoke team deep after a
holding call on return. The Cougar defense then again stepped up to the
challenge, and on fourth and long from inside their own five yard line the
Vikings were forced to punt. The ball went high, and despite a great
effort by the Northside punter he was forced to fall on the ball for a
safety, giving Pulaski two points and the ball, moving the score to 10-9
Northside. With 3:27 left
in the third quarter Northside struck again when Hardister hit Will
Holladay for a 34 yard touchdown pass, moving the score to 17-9. Pulaski
County never gave up, and with time ticking off the clock Marcus
McClanahan stepped up his game....running over and through tacklers play
after play as the Cougars marched down the field. Just when it looked like
the Cougars might be ready to tie the game, McClanahan took the ball up
the middle, broke to the right, then back to the middle again. As he
appeared to get near the goal line, the ball came loose. Looking at the
picture, it's hard to tell if he crossed the goal line or if his knee hit
before the ball came loose, but Northside jumped on the ball in the
endzone. After a lengthy discussion, the officials ruled it a fumble and
awarded Northside the ball at their own twenty yard line. With time
ticking quickly off the clock, the Cougar defense was finally able to
force another Northside punt, but the Cougars were unable to get the ball
down field for a first down and Northside took a knee to end the
game. As much as I
hate to see Pulaski lose, this game was a good effort by our Cougars. The
offense did some things, and will continue to improve. The defense looked
strong, and with the exception of the two passing plays did a solid job of
containing the Viking ground game. Don't give up on this team yet Cougar
fans. Head Coach Todd Jones and his staff will take a good, long, hard
look at the game film and make more adjustments. The season is far from
over. GO COUGARS!!
BELIEVE!!
Game Pictures |
