ROANOKE TIMES
Copyright (c) 1996, Roanoke Times
DATE: Saturday, October 19, 1996 TAG: 9610210123
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY
DATELINE: DUBLIN
SOURCE: ANGIE WATTS STAFF WRITER
MEMO: Shorter version ran in Metro edition.
The Pulaski County Cougars had everything on their side Friday night at Kenneth J. Dobson Field. They had a band, three times as many cheerleaders as William Fleming and hundreds of football fans compared to just a handful for the Colonels.
But more important, they had Craig Hodge.
Hodge, a junior fullback, scored five touchdowns as the Cougars rolled 39-14 over the Colonels in a Roanoke Valley District matchup. With the scores, Hodge became the all-time single-season scoring leader at Pulaski County with a total of 132 points on 22 touchdowns.
``Hodge is awesome,'' William Fleming coach George Miller said. ``He's by far the best back we've played against.''
Cougars coach Joel Hicks was quick to share the credit.
``When we start to talk about Craig Hodge, you first have to talk about the offensive line and the hole they create,'' Hicks said. ``Then Hodge certainly does a lot with the ball once it's in his hands.''
Pulaski County (7-1 overall, 2-0 district) took advantage of great field position in the first quarter, starting its first three drives within the William Fleming 40-yard line. The Cougars' second possession began when Ronald Branch picked off a Charles Burnette pass at the Colonels' 30-yard line.
It took Pulaski County just six plays to make William Fleming (2-5, 0-1) pay for the mistake. Hodge ran it in from 2 yards out for his first score of the game.
He hit paydirt from 1 yard out just over four minutes later for a 12-0 lead at the end of the first quarter.
``I think the first quarter was the key,'' Hicks said. ``We had great field position and our kicking game came up big. We got them in a hole and never let them out.''
With William Fleming plagued by penalties and a second interception by Burnette, Pulaski County added two touchdowns in a span of 2:24. The first was a 65-yard scamper by sophomore Kwasi Scott, the second a 1-yard dive over the top by Hodge.
``There was no way in the world we could have expected to win this game with the number of mistakes we made,'' said Miller, whose team was whistled nine times for 85 yards in penalties. ``This is the most penalties we've had in our last three games combined.''
The Colonels put together their only drive worth remembering just before the half. After not gaining a first down in the first 20 minutes, William Fleming strung together four in a row. Burnette capped the drive with a 3-yard toss to Richard Wilson in the back corner of the end zone, pulling the Colonels within 25-8 at the break.
But any sparks of momentum for William Fleming were quickly extinguished when second-half action got underway.
Five plays into the third quarter, Hodge broke free and streaked 51 yards down the left sideline for a 32-8 Cougars advantage. Hodge led all runners with 110 yards on 13 carries. He also grabbed one of three Burnette interceptions.
After another long scoring run by Hodge - this one a 31-yarder - Fleming's Damara Gill closed out the scoring with a 1-yard run. Tailback Lee Suggs led the Colonels' offensive attack, gaining 91 of the team's 124 rushing yards.
Burnette finished 11-of-22 for 118 yards passing.
The Cougars have a bye next week before returning to action against district rival Patrick Henry.
``We need a week off,'' Hicks said. ``We've gotten back-to-back wins in the RVD and now the layoff couldn't be coming at a better time. It gives us time to get healed and be ready to come out strong against Patrick Henry for the district championship.'' NOTE: Please see microfilm for scores.
LENGTH: Medium: 76 lines ILLUSTRATION: PHOTO: ALAN KIM\Staff. Pulaski County's Ryan Brockmeyer (17)by CNBsacks William Fleming quarterback Charles Burnette during their game
Friday night. color.