Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: SATURDAY, November 13, 1993 TAG: 9311130226
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-2 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: From staff reports
DATELINE: DUBLIN LENGTH: Long
Pulaski County scored on its first six possessions - with no drive longer than 50 yards - en route to a 49-7 Roanoke Valley District high school football victory.
The victory gave the Cougars (10-0 overall, 4-0 Roanoke Valley District) their third perfect regular season in school history and their third consecutive district crown.
Next week, Pulaski County will be home against C.D. Hylton (8-1), winner of the Cardinal District, in a Group AAA Division 6 Northwestern Region semifinal. The Cougars are ranked No. 1 in the state in the Group AAA poll and No. 14 in the nation in the USA Today poll.
The outcome never really was in doubt. Cave Spring (0-10, 0-4) lost 1 yard on its first three plays and punted.
The Cougars took over at the Cave Spring 39-yard line. And on the sixth play, Carl Lewis went 4 yards untouched through the right side of the line for a touchdown.
"The line did a great job opening holes," Lewis said. "The holes were open real wide. I just went through them and that was it."
Before the first quarter was over, Tim Kimbrough had run a pitch out 19 yards and Andre Eaves swept around the left side 40 yards on a quarterback keeper for touchdowns.
The second quarter was more of the same. Lewis and Kimbrough each ran untouched for a touchdown, and fullback Brian Redd plunged 1 yard for a touchdown.
Pulaski County's longest drive was 46 yards, and the total length of all six marches was 194 yards.
"We just came out and said we were going to play some tough defense; we didn't want to get anything on offense," said defensive back Jamar McNair, who had an interception and a fumble recovery in the first half. "[On the turnovers], I just played my position. My person was in on the play, and I played the ball."
Eric Webb and Chad Nash also had interceptions in the first half for Pulaski County.
"They are that good," said Steve Spangler, Cave Spring's coach. "We couldn't do anything. We knew what we were up against. They are just tough."
At halftime, the Cougars had given up two first downs and thrown the Knights for losses five times. The only time Cave Spring had crossed midfield, the play was called back because of a penalty.
By the time the Knights scored to avert a shutout, the Cougars had scored a seventh touchdown with a unit made up entirely of reserves.
\ Alleghany 14\ Lord Botetourt 12
DALEVILLE - In a mistake-laden Blue Ridge District game, the visiting Mountaineers held off the Cavaliers in each team's season finale. The teams made several fourth-quarter blunders which kept the outcome in doubt until the final gun.
Alleghany ended the season 7-3, the best record in Tom McIntyre's four campaigns at the Low Moor school. Botetourt finished 6-4, its first winning season since 1985.
Alleghany prevailed by virtue of an 85-yard kickoff return by David Cummings to open the second half. Cummings, who scored both Mountaineers touchdowns, led his team's ground attack with 76 yards on 22 carries. Fullback Todd Cook contributed 65 yards on 17 rushes, and salted the win away with several strong runs in the game's final minutes.
The Cavaliers missed on two opportunities to pull ahead in the final six minutes. When Alleghany punter David Dixon received a bad snap and was unable to get off a kick, Botetourt had first and 10 at the Mountaineers' 35. Two plays later, quarterback Chris Deweese mishandled his snap and Alleghany's Todd Wheatley recovered the ball.
Four plays and a penalty later, Dixon took another poor snap as he attempted to punt and lost the ball on his 15.
The Cavaliers moved the ball 1 yard on three plays, and kicker Bobby Stewart missed on a 32-yard field-goal attempt that could have won the game.
"We were in a position we wanted to be in," Botetourt coach Andy Ward said. "Late in the fourth quarter with the opportunity to win. I didn't hesitate to try the field goal, because 32 yards is exactly [Stewart's] range, even though he hadn't kicked one in a game this year."
Ward, in his first year as head coach of the Cavaliers, was encouraged by his team's play this season.
"We're no longer the whipping boy of the Blue Ridge District," he said. "We're here to stay."
Parry McCluer 34\ Glenvar 0
BUENA VISTA - Shaam Wheeler ran for 176 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries as the Fighting Blues locked up the Pioneer District title by defeating the Highlanders. Parry McCluer (9-1, 5-0) will play host to Rural Retreat of the Hogoheegee district Nov. 19 in the opening round of the Group A Region C playoffs. Glenvar (4-6, 3-2) had 143 yards rushing. Mike Stanley was the Highlanders' leading rusher with 78 yards on 17 carries.
\ Albemarle 33\ Franklin County 7
CHARLOTTESVILLE - The Patriots sent retiring coach John "Howdy" Mack out successfully with a big fourth quarter in a non-district victory over the visiting Eagles. The Patriots (5-5) led 10-7 before Jay Brown scored on runs of 65 and 14 yards in a span of 2:30 to finish Franklin County (2-8). Brown scored three touchdowns.
\ Jefferson Forest 42\ Staunton River 0
FOREST - Billy Smith rushed seven times for 135 yards and two touchdowns to lead the playoff-bound Cavaliers over the winless Golden Eagles (0-10) in a Seminole District game. The Cavaliers (8-2, 8-2) begin Region III Division playoff action next weekend. Smith scored on runs of 29 and 60 yards.
Bath County 27\ James River 8
HOT SPRINGS - Sophomore Ivan Franklin paced a crushing ground game with 147 yards rushing as the Chargers (8-2, 4-1) ripped the Knights to claim second place in the Pioneer District regular-season race. Bath County, which advances to next week's Group A playoffs, outrushed James River 291-125 despite having two of its top backs - Billy Thomas and Michael Edwards - on the sideline. James River's touchdown came on Todd Washington's short run late in the game.
\ Covington 25\ Craig County 15
NEW CASTLE - Tailback Tom Luckett's 8-yard touchdown run in the third quarter put Covington ahead to stay and the Cougars (2-8, 2-3) went on to defeat the Rockets in a Pioneer District game. Luckett finished with 112 rushing yards on 28 carries.
Quarterback Robbie Huffman passed for 153 yards and rushed for another 53 for Craig County (0-10, 0-5). He connected with Zachary Peters on a 68-yard touchdown play in the first quarter.
by CNB