Saturday, October 17, 2009
Knights defeat Cougars
Last week when Cave Spring found itself down big early to Salem, the Knights seemed to lose a lot of their fight.
Friday night, when Pulaski County built a two-touchdown lead over the Knights, Cave Spring came roaring back, taking advantage of three late Cougar turnovers on the way to a 42-34 win.
Down 28-14 late in the third quarter, Cave Spring scored touchdowns on four straight possessions to put the game out of reach.
The win was the first in River Ridge District play for the Knights (6-1, 1-1), while the loss was the fourth straight for the reeling Cougars (2-5, 0-2).
Pulaski County appeared to be cruising when Luke Watson hit Jolly Martin with a 5-yard touchdown pass with 3:31 remaining in the third quarter to go up 28-14.
But Cave Spring immediately responded with a nine-play, 73-yard drive capped by a 15-yard TD run by Michael Cole.
Pulaski County tried to strike back quickly, but Knights safety Erik Jacobsen picked off a deep Watson pass.
Jacobsen's long return into Pulaski territory was negated by a penalty for a block in the back so the Knights had to start the drive at their own 26.
That didn't matter.
With the offensive line opening huge holes for Michael Cole and Sam Wright, Cave Spring easily moved the ball downfield, with Cole scoring the second of his three touchdowns on a 14-yard run to tie the game.
Pulaski was moving the ball on its next drive and had a first down at the Cave Spring 33 when Watson spotted an wide-open receiver.
Jacobsen spotted it, too.
"We had a breakdown in coverage," Jacobsen said. "Both of our cornerbacks were on the same side and luckily I saw it and was able to get over there."
What looked to be an easy Pulaski score vanished when Jacobsen streaked under the pass for his second pick.
On the next play, Wright shot up the middle, juked a linebacker and streaked 63 yards for the score.
Wright ended the night with 26 carries for 234 yards, 80 of which came on a scoring drive on Cave Spring's first possession of the game.
After Wright's long run, Pulaski still had more than five minutes left to try to pull even. But on the third play of the Cougars' next possession, Watson ran an option to the left and under pressure pitched the ball into the open field.
Knights linebacker Tucker Green scooped up the ball at midfield and rumbled to inside the Cougars' 5-yard line before being dragged down. Four plays later, on fourth- and-goal from the 2, Cole took a direct snap and scored to put the Knights up 42-28 with 1:59 remaining.
"The offensive line won the game for us," said Cole, who had 114 yards rushing on 14 carries, all in the second half.
Cave Spring coach Tim Fulton also praised the line.
"When you run that power kind of game, you hope something is going to break for you," Fulton said. "And eventually it did."
Pulaski County 7 7 14 6--34
Cave Spring 7 7 7 21--42
CS -- Wright 1 run (Hafey kick)
P -- Long 18 run (Songer kick)
P -- Martin 1 run (Songer kick)
CS -- Anderson 4 pass from Woodrum (Hafey kick)
P -- Martin 18 run (Songer kick)
P -- Martin 3 pass from Watson (Songer kick)
CS -- Cole 15 run (Hafey kick)
CS -- Cole 14 run (Hafey kick)
CS -- Wright 63 run (Hafey kick)
CS -- Cole 1 run (Hafey kick)
P -- Martin 1 run (kick failed )
PC CS
First downs 25 23
Yards rushing 352 238
Passes C-A-I 8-13-2 5-11-0
Yards passing 121 58
Penalties-yards 9-48 5-60
Fumbles-lost 2-1 2-1
Punts-average 1-36 2-37.5
Individual statistics
RUSHING -- Pulaski County, Rick Hobbs 18-43, Long 4-41, Martin 11-53, Watson 9-50, Smith 7-39, Randall Cobbs 1-12. Cave Spring, Wright 26-234, Cole 13-114, Woodrum 3-4.
PASSING -- Pulaski County, Watson 8-13-2-121. Cave Spring, Woodrum 5-11-0-58.
RECEIVING -- Pulaski County, Martin 3-43, Robert Cobbs 1-17,Akers 3-61. Cave Spring, Jacsobsen 4-53, Anderson 1-5.
