Month: October 2015

Cougars get dramatic win over Blue Demons

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.

Fort Chiswell drops to 0-6

Galax….Galax Maroon Tide behind running back Charles Harris’s four touchdowns defeated the Fort Chiswell Pioneers 41-6. Harris rushed for three scores and returned the second half kickoff 76 yards. He finished with 17 rushes for 154 total yards. Do-all-everything Caleb Spurlin of the Maroon Tide caught seven passes for 67 yards and one touchdown. QB Carson Orton completed ten of 17 passes for 82 yards as the Galax Maroon Tided finished with 325 yards of offense.

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAFort Chiswell scored their only touchdown of the game in the third quarter when Jared Stephens caught a 190-yard pass from Warren Moore. Pioneers were held in the first half to just 17 yards of offense. Fifteen of those were through the air. Their futility on the ground and penalties at inopportune times took away any momentum they had in the first half.

Galax lead 20-0 at halftime on two touchdowns by Harris and Spurlin’s seven yard catch from Orton. Harris then received the second half kickoff and rambled 76 yards to put them up 27-0.

The Pioneers (0-6) got on the scoreboard with 4:59 to go in the third quarter with Stephen’s 19-yard reception, but Tyler Dunford’s kick failed.

Galax (2-4) then made it 34-6 with 3:15 to go in the third with Haris’s 46-yard run. Their last score of the night was on a one yard run by Austin Rector with 5:19 to go.

“We shot ourselves in the foot more times than not tonight,” said Pioneer Head Coach Todd Tiller. “We just can’t overcome those kind of mistakes.” He then added, “We also got penalties tonight at the worst of times. Defensively we played well at times. Galax is well-coached.”

Fort Chiswell will now travel to Narrows Friday night to take on the Green Wave. Kick-off is scheduled for 7 pm at Ragsdale Field.

Radford stampedes the Buffaloes

The Radford Bobcats had to wait five days to play Floyd for their homecoming. They came out fired up and jumped on Floyd early as they scored three touchdowns in the opening quarter enroute to a 55-8 shellacking. Playing perhaps their best game defensively, the Bobcats held Floyd to just 19 yards of offense for the first half. They held them to 75 yards total for the game.

Radford quarterback Marcus Finley scored two rushing touchdowns and threw three td passes. He had 131 yards in passing yards on seven of 11 passes. He rushed for 165 as he finished with 296 total yards of offense. Heth Grant scored one touchdown and carried the ball twice for 30 yards before he got his ankle rolled up on. D.J.Baylor caught four passes for 59 yards as he caught two touchdown passes. He also threw a 36 yarder to Kaleb Smith for another score.

Radford lead 21-0 with Grant scored on a 19 yard run around left end, Finley raced 58 yards for a score and Baylor caught a 13 yard pass. The second quarter saw the Bobcats (5-1) scored twice on a Dontae Billings’s six yard run and Baylor a 15-yard catch for a 35-0 lead at halftime. Finley scored on a 68-yard jaunt and the Cats would then use their second and third string for rest of the game. They went 48-0 when Baylor hit Kaleb Smith on a 36 yard down the sideline for six.

Floyd (1-5) got their only score with 8:59 left on a Brady Underwood to Austin Gallimore 20 yard reception. Underwood hit Gallimore for the two-point pass. Radford would get a four-yard run from Markell Thompson for the final score of the game.

“I thought we executed better tonight,” said Radford head coach Matthew Saunders. “I thought Finley (Marcus) stepped up after Heth (Grant) went out.” Coach then added, “We changed a couple things defensively after our last game and we need to keep getting better. Our offensive and defensive line played better tonight.” Coach Saunders was then asked about Grant. “I’m like Belicheck, I don’t know. Seriously he will go see doctor tomorrow is all I know.”

Grant was rolled up on from behind, and his ankle got twisted. High ankle sprain may be a problem, but a doctor will examine him tomorrow,Thursday. The Bobcats will have a bye this Friday and will return to action Friday October 16 as they travel to Giles. Kickoff is slated for 7pm.

Radford 21 14 13 7-55

Floyd 0 0 0 8-8

First Downs- R- 16, F- 6

Penalties-R- 5-30 yds., F- 4-19yds.

Passing- R- Finley 7-11-0- 3 – 131 yds. ,Baylor 1-2-0- 1-36 yds., F- Underwood 3-11-0-1-34 yds.

Pioneers will travel to Galax, face the Maroon Tide

Max Meadows … Fort Chiswell will travel to Galax Friday to meet the Maroon Tide. Both are coming off loses. Fort Chiswell lost to James River 35-6 and Galax to Giles 35-24.
Galax is 1-4 and the Pioneers are still looking for their first win. Fort Chiswell has had big time trouble running the football, while Galax loves to run the ball. The Pioneers have thrown the ball on an average of over 30 times a game and Galax less than seven.
The Maroon Tide is under the direction of Mark Dixon. His record is 47-22 with the Tide in his sixth season. Their main offensive weapon is Charles Harris a senior, 6-1, 210 pounder, who has rushed for over 850 yards. Carson Orton a junior, is the starting quarterback. Caleb Spurlin is a do-it-all athlete. He plays fullback, tight end and is a major force on defense from his linebacker position. Daniel Edwards and Zamir Echegaray are the main guys on the lines. Both are very good. Coach Dixon, a former lineman at UVA and in the NFL, has had excellent line play since he took over the Maroon Tide program. “Dougie” Peoples is a backup running back that spells Harris, is fast and very athletic. Peoples is a senior, and they also will use Isiah Brown.
Fort Chiswell head coach Todd Tiller said, “They (Galax) will run the ball right down your throat. They throw the football very, very little. Coach Dixon does a fine job there. Their line play is as good as anybody we have or will face.” Coach Tiller added, “Galax will crowd the line of scrimmage and bring linebackers. They’re the best 1-4 team you will face. They lost to Glenvar, Giles, Radford and George Wythe. Their schedule has been as tough as ours.”
Fort Chiswell is averaging just 10 points a game and are giving up an average of 42 a game. Galax has been averaging 27.4 on offense while giving up 28.6. They have lost to Glenvar by five points, Radford in overtime by seven. They lost to Giles by 11and George Wythe by one.
Game time is slated for Friday, with the kickoff scheduled at 7 pm at Galax High School.

Condolences

RSN sends condolences to Pulaski County High School’s head football coach, Stephen James, for the loss of his Father, Wesley Samuel James, Jr. Mr. James passed away this morning. My deepest sympathy goes out to Stephen,
Bobby and their families. “Peace to soothe you, Grace to hold you, Love to comfort you”

Fort Chiswell loses homecoming

Max Meadows…Monday night football? Yes it was at Fort Chiswell High School as they hosted the James River Knights, but it wasn’t a happy homecoming. The Pioneers (0-5) lost to the Knights 35-6.

The Knights (4-2) got two touchdown runs from running back Sean Wright, and quarterback Luke Harman threw two td passes to Sheldon Philip. Wright finished with 57 yards rushing as he scored the first two scores of the game in the opening quarter. Harman hit Philip with a 45-yard strike with two minutes before half to go up 21-0. The Knights would strike two more times in third quarter as Harman hit Philip on a 37 yard pass, and Harman would run in from five yards out.

Fort Chiswell averted the shutout when Colby Rider bulled his way into the end zone from one yard out with 7:30 left in the game. Rider was the Pioneers leading rusher, as he was used in the wildcat formation. He had 52 yards on just four carries.

#3 QB Warren Moore
#3 QB Warren Moore

Quarterback Warren Moore completed 14 of 33 passes for 132 yards. He also was intercepted twice. Tanner Bailey caught three passes totaling 73 yards. Head coach Todd Tiller of the Pioneers remarked. “We put ourselves in the hole right off the bat. We fumbled the dang ball at our own 10-yard line and gave them their first score. We can’t overcome any adversity right now.”

Coach then added, “We don’t have any consistency on the offensive line. We lost another starter tonight. That’s four or five lineman we’ve lost. We have had five different starting offensive lines in the five games.”

Homecoming King and Queen, Lucas Edmonds and Sadie Smith
Homecoming King and Queen, Lucas Edmonds and Sadie Smith

Fort Chiswell will hit the road this Friday as they go to Galax. Game is slated for 7pm.

 

Photography courtesy Tina Quesenberry

More Rain,more game changes

The latest updates on high school football: the Floyd at Radford games is now rescheduled for Wednesday ,October 7 at 6pm. Galax at Giles is now slated for Monday,October 5 at 7pm. Patrick Henry-Glade Spring at Rural Retreat is Monday at 7. George Wythe at Honaker moved to Monday at 7pm. The Bland Co at Montcalm (WV) game will be Monday at 7. Parry McCluer at Auburn moved to 7 pm Monday,October 5.

Cougars “D” , second half comeback defeats Patriots

The Pulaski Co.Cougars scored a touchdown late in the third and a go ahead touchdown in the fourth to defeat the Patrick Henry Patriots 21-14. Elliott Brewster caught an 11 yard slant pass from quarterback Bryant Grubb to tie the game at 14 with 1:56 to go in the third quarter. Then Jamall Edmonds bulled his way in from the five yard line for the winning score , with 6:50 left in the game. The Cougar defense held the Patriots to minus 31 yards in the second half rushing and to minus 12 for the game.

The Patriots (3-3) scored on Andrew Harris’ 38 yard punt return in the first three minutes of the game. The only other score game on a one yard fumble recovery. Talented Patriot QB Quishon Calfee threw for 142 yards as he completed nine of 19. He also was picked off twice.

The Cougars ( 5-0) defense held the Patriots to 132 total yards on a rainy night and played on a sloppy field. Cougar head coach Stephen James said,”Our defensive staff had a heck of a game plan and the guys played tremendous on “D”. He then added,” This was a big win for us. Hopefully we gained some respect and got some power points too. We had some mistakes but we hung tough.”

Hunter Thomas carried the ball 25 times for 104 yards. Jamall Edmonds finished with 46 yards. Elliott Brewster had a big game for the Cougars as he returned a kick off 89 yards for a touchdown in the first quarter to tie it at seven, to go with his td pass catch from Grubb. Grubb was two of eight for 50 yards on the night .

The Cougars will now play at Christiansburg Saturday October 10 at 1 pm.

PH 7 7 0 0-14

PC 7 0 7 7-21

First Downs- PC- 10, PH- 6

Penalties-PC- 7-86 yds. , PH- 15-113yds.

Total Yards-PC- 204. PH- 132

Fumbles- PC-2, PH-1

Ints.- PC-2,PH-0