Friday November 4^th, 2005, a night that will forever be remembered as one of the biggest letdowns in Cougar Football history. First, the Cougars were hoping to erase the feelings that they felt after the horrible beating that Christiansburg gave us just one week ago. Secondly, the Cougars were hoping to salvage this season and try to solidify a possible playoff bid by knocking off the Knights. As well, Cave Spring came to Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium with the hopes of clinching their playoff aspirations by defeating the Cougars, and defeat us they did. They capitalized on several Cougar turnovers and pulled out an “upset” as they won 20 to 10.

After two consecutive defeats, everyone in the Cougar football family is wondering what exactly to do next. We have lost four times this year and that is very unacceptable, and we have the biggest game of the year this upcoming Friday night against who else but our biggest rival, Salem. We have extremely talented players on every side of the ball and during those four losses; our team has not played to their full potential. The seniors on the football team, more than anyone else deserved to go to the playoffs; they had never felt the rush, the intensity; they have never felt the feeling of going to state and realizing their dreams, and they never will. Five years ago, high school football was a different playground; there were the powerful teams and the mediocre ones, districts were not as difficult to win as they are now. Perhaps it is the fact that we as a nation are much stronger, larger, and faster that we were in the past; therefore the talent in sports is much more prevalent and more in abundance than it is ever has before in history.

Pulaski County hasn’t went to the playoffs since 2001; four football teams later, each with its own trademark and signature players have come and gone. Each team had the mentality, the drive to succeed, but as always, some obstacle blocked our path. This season was supposed to be a breakout season, the season that perhaps could bring us back to glory, back to the perch where we belong. Nevertheless, obviously, it was not meant to be; this team is so talented—we have the best backfield in Southwest Virginia as well as the strongest offensive line that many coaches have ever seen.

Well back to the game—It was a picture perfect atmosphere in Dobson Stadium as the temperatures dipped into the mid 50’s and as soon as the players touched the hallowed turf, the temperatures reached the boiling point!  On the first play of the game, Cave Spring fumbled Piscura’s kickoff and Pulaski County was in business as they were deep in Cave Spring territory. The Cougars reached the four, but had to settle for three as Piscura sailed the pigskin through the uprights to strike first.

The next possession for the Knights tested both the fans and the players alike as the Knights drove down the field and scored a touchdown to take the lead seven to three. The horror story then began to ignite as the Cougars started to turn the ball over once again, as the Knights took over and scored a field goal to go up 10 to 3 at the half.

The anticipation was building as the Cougars were still in this game after two solid quarters on both sides of the ball and the fans of both teams were primed for a comeback by the Cougars to cement their playoff spot. The third quarter was a model of the previous two as both teams struggled to reach paydirt until Cave Spring capitalized on a Cougar turnover and scored three more to extend their lead to 13 to 3 after three brutal, hard-played quarters.

The fourth quarter continued to be of the same trend, as both teams could not find a way to score. The Cougars finally reached paydirt and decreased the deficit to only three. The Cougar defense quickly got the ball back for us as we hoped to start a game-winning drive with about 5 minutes remaining.  Things were going perfectly as the offense started to drive the ball into Cave Spring territory and then suddenly, a costly turnover by Benji Poindexter gave the ball back to the Knights. The Knights capitalized on the turnover, drove back down the field, and scored what would be the game-winning touchdown as the Knights ruined all thoughts of a Cougar home-field playoff game as they won 20 to 10.

Cougar fans….. Do not be discouraged!!! Due to the outstanding play that the Cougars had in the earlier point of the season, we have somewhat captured a playoff spot against a very familiar opponent, the always tough Salem Spartans! Two games in a row, two games against Salem in one year; money can’t buy the happiness that this team may feel if they recapture the intensity, the tenacity and the raw power that they played with during their amazing five-game winning streak.

Please try to come out and support our Pulaski County Cougars as they try to prove all of the critics wrong, this game will mean more than any other will if we can pull out of Salem Stadium with a victory! Please support our team by any means possible and yell at the top of your lungs.. We need every person to be “Cougar Crazy” and show the Spartans how to get rowdy. Spartans, Get in the Truck!!

GO COUGARS!!!