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Blue Demons in midseason form

The offense and defense were both clicking to keep Pulaski Co. at arm’s length most of the game.

DANIEL LIN | Special to The Roanoke Times

Christiansburg running back Kory Hendricks tries to repel Pulaski defensive back Malik Eaves as he moves the ball up the field.

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Troy Sarver | Special to The Roanoke Times

Saturday, August 31, 2013

PULASKI — It may have been their opening game of the season, but Christiansburg looked in midseason form in the first quarter Friday night.

The Blue Demons jumped out to an early 14-0 lead and held on to defeat Pulaski County in a battle of River Ridge District foes, 30-14.

Christiansburg started the scoring on its opening drive by moving 57 yards on seven plays, capped off by a 10-yard touchdown run from Logan Adkins. All the plays on the drive were runs.

After a defensive holding penalty, Christiansburg again moved downfield, this time with help from the passing game. After having a touchdown pass called back because of a penalty, Blue Demon quarterback Charlie Jackson hit receiver Ryan Saunders on the next play for a 24-yard touchdown that doubled the score to 14-0 at the 1:03 mark of the first quarter.

While the offense was rolling, Christiansburg’s defense held Pulaski County without a first down until midway through the second quarter.

“That felt really good. You couldn’t have scripted a better start than that,” said Christiansburg head coach Tim Cromer.

Pulaski County got on the scoreboard in the second period when halfback Brandon Jones scored on a 6-yard TD run. This came after Cougar quarterback Marcus Johnston hit receiver Tyler Ervine on a 64-yard bomb, which also was Pulaski’s initial first down of the game.

“We got in a hole and tried to dig out,” said Pulaski County coach Todd Jones. “We’d get something going, but then have a bobbled snap or something and stop it.”

Pulaski got within a touchdown early in the second half, but Jackson again struck from the air as he hit Kory Hendricks for a 54-yard scoring strike early in the third to move the margin back to 14 points.

“I knew he [Jackson] would get it to me,” Hendricks said. “I just put my hand in the air, and knew I had a touchdown.”

The Cougars had one final gasp in the fourth when Johnston sprinted for an 83-yard touchdown to cut the deficit to 28-14 with 9:44 left. The Cougars then held defensively to get the ball back and moved to the Blue Demons 25 before being stopped on three consecutive sacks to end the threat.

Saturday, September 14, 2013