Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, October 23, 1993 TAG: 9310230230
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: BOB TEITLEBAUM STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
With William Fleming taking away the outside and off-tackle runs, the Cougars went to 5-foot-11, 205-pound Brian Redd inside to lead them to a 24-0 Roanoke Valley District football victory Friday night at Victory Stadium.
Redd had the best game of his career, rushing for 156 yards on 13 carries and scoring two touchdowns in the second half as Pulaski County (7-0 overall, 2-0 in the district) pulled away.
Redd had only 34 yards at halftime, and the Cougars for the first time all year failed to score a touchdown in the opening 24 minutes. On the second play of the third quarter, Redd rambled for 37 yards, and he was on his way to dominating the Colonels (3-4, 0-1).
Cougars coach Joel Hicks was more than willing to call Redd's number.
"At the half, we came in and worked on blocking schemes," Redd said of a Pulaski County dressing room that must have been very somber with only a 3-0 lead. "We weren't blocking [very well]."
"Joel Hicks wasn't very smart in the first half," said Hicks, the coach of the state's top-ranked Group AAA team. "I should have run inside sooner."
Redd said, "I never dreamed I'd run this much, but the holes were opening and I was busting through. I was fired up. It was my night, but there will be other nights for other backs."
It was hard to believe this was the same Fleming team that gave up four touchdowns in a loss at Albemarle on Oct. 8. The Colonels' defense kept Pulaski County from dominating the first half, but gave up a 19-yard field goal to Shayne Graham midway through the second quarter.
This was set up by the Pulaski County kicking game and defense. First, Billy Ingles, who might be the best-kept secret in Timesland because he rarely punts, pinned Fleming at its 11 with a high 36-yard kick that couldn't be returned.
Pulaski County's defense forced a punt. Under a heavy rush, Raytoine Gray shanked the kick, and the ball went out of bounds at the Colonels' 34. The Cougars went to Redd on the next series and he helped them pick up two first downs. Then, Hicks called on his leading rusher, Carl Lewis, who was stacked up twice. That forced Graham to attempt a field goal.
Fleming coach Sherley Stuart said his team wasn't keying on Lewis. He also wasn't surprised at Redd's success, though the big back wasn't a key when the Cougars mauled Salem 45-6 on Oct. 15.
"With [Pulaski County], you can't key on anyone," Stuart said. "I thought we did a good job on their fullback [Redd] the first half, but they made some adjustments."
In the second half, Redd's 37-yard jaunt also had a 15-yard personal-foul penalty added when Eric Webb was pushed from behind after the play ended.
"That was the play that really killed us," Stuart said. "There's the big run, they tack on 15 yards and all of a sudden they score on you."
That happened five plays later, when Redd went up the middle for four yards after Lewis had picked up a first down on a quick pitch outside on fourth and one from the Fleming 9. Graham's kick made it 10-0.
The second half was one of few possessions. That's because Fleming came right back with a drive that reached the Pulaski County 4 for a first down. The key play was a 31-yard pass from Al Holland Jr. to Ernest Harrington.
However, the Colonels started making mistakes. First, an illegal-procedure penalty backed Fleming up to the 9. Then, Holland threw to Mike Souma for an apparent touchdown, but it was nullified by a holding penalty and the Colonels never scored as the last period started.
The Cougars put away Fleming with an 84-yard drive. Redd started it with a 13-yard run, then ran 46 yards to set up his 7-yard touchdown run with 7:42 left.
The Cougars scored again when Fleming gambled from midfield and failed on fourth down. Andre Eaves threw his only pass of the night, hitting Webb for 26 yards to set up a 1-yard touchdown run by C.A. Burkes.
Fleming's Eddie Jones rushed for 81 yards and caught five passes for 25 yards, and Holland threw for 123 yards. Still, Pulaski County bottled up the Colonels for all but one drive, and a big reason was the play of tackles Larry Newcomb and Randy Dunigan, who kept the heat on Holland all night.
"Eddie didn't put on equipment until this past Wednesday, and I thought he did very well," Stuart said of his top back, who went out two weeks ago with strained tendons in one of his legs. "I know I wouldn't trade him." \
see microfilm for box score
by CNB