Christiansburg… On a rainy, dreary Saturday afternoon the Pulaski Co. Cougars beat the Blue Demons at Christiansburg 14-6 to stay undefeated. Running back Hunter Thomas took the handoff, started around the right end where he got a devastating block from Sam Grissom. He turned up field, down the Cougar sideline and galloped 87 yards to pay dirt with just 45 seconds remaining in the game for the winning score. The Cougars then went for two as they handed off to Jamall Edmonds to make the scoreboard read 14-6.
The Cougars (6-0) took the lead with 2:10 left in the opening quarter, when Kevon Houston caught a 41-yard pass from Bryant Grubb, but their point after was blocked. The contest would become a defensive battle as the Cougars would move the ball but couldn’t put the ball into the end zone. Their defense was very physical and just stuffed the Christiansburg offense.
Christiansburg (1-5) would get a field goal from 25 yards out from Neal Rahmes with just 2:15 before halftime. The Blue Demons offense would only muster 39 yards of total offense in the first half.
The second half again became defensive as both teams had trouble moving the ball. The third quarter went scoreless as the Cougars still held onto a 6-3 advantage. The Cougars would score a touchdown in the third by Elliott Brewster, but the play was called back because of a holding penalty.
The Blue Demons would finally march the ball down to the Pulaski Co. one yard, but on fourth down Alec Henderson took the handoff and was stuffed in the center of the Cougar line for a loss of two yards. The Cougars physical defense had stood strong with 9:49 remaining in the game.
Bryant Grubb on the ensuing drive would be intercepted by The Demons Xavier Kane at the Cougar 25 and returned it for a score. The one thing that mattered most though was a block in the back penalty brought the ball back out to the Cougar 21. After a couple runs produced negative yards, the Demons kicker, Neal Rahmes set up at the 30 and kicked a 40-yard tying field goal with 7:49 to go.
After a couple of possession changes Christiansburg’s QB Xavier Kane would rumble 85 yards, but the play was brought back due to a holding call with 2:42 on the clock.
The Cougar defense would halt the Demons at midfield and made them punt. That was downed at the Cougar 13-yard line. Then on the first play Thomas would make the Cougar faithful jump up and down and scream with his 87-yard jaunt.
“It wasn’t the prettiest game we’ve played,” said Cougar head coach Stephen James. “Give credit to Christiansburg. They made it hard on us, and they made us not look good at times.” Coach then added, “We played hard today, and I’m proud of how we hung in and hung together. Our defense made a huge stop there at our one-yard line. I thought the defense played great today.”
The Cougars will be back at Kenneth J.Dobson Stadium this Friday as they host the Blacksburg Bruins. Kickoff is scheduled for 7 pm.