The regular season has been a wild one for the Cougar football team. Under the direction of Head Coach Cam Akers and his staff, the Cougars have continued to learn and grow. How much they’ve learned and grown will be put to the test Thursday when they make a second trip this season to Mitchell Stadium to take on the Graham G-Men.
Graham comes into the contest with a perfect 7-0 record. They’ve beaten teams by impressive margins most of the time. They opened the season with a 29-25 win over Bluefield. Week two was a 38-8 win over Tazewell. A 48-3 win over Richlands and a 17-8 win over Union were followed by a 28-14 win over Galax. They defeated George Wythe 27-7. Last week they defeated Virginia High School 49-21 on the road.
Last season, the G-Men paid a visit to Kenneth J. Dobson Stadium and left with a crushing 58-18 win over a wounded Cougar squad that was struggling to fill starting spots. They ended their season with a 13-1 record and a 21-48 loss in the State Championship game in Salem to King William.
“No question about it, they are a tough program from top to bottom,” Cougar Head Coach Cam Akers said. “They’re a team that has grown accustomed to winning and making deep playoff runs. They won it all in 2018 and had a shot at it again last year. Both teams will have some players out for this game, so it’s going to I think we’re all going to see who can fill in the gaps best. Our game plan will be the same as always, it’s just a matter of execution and not shooting ourselves in the foot with mistakes and penalties.”
The Cougars come into the contest with a record of four wins and three losses. The senior members of the team have had three different head coaches since their freshman year. To say that the program has gone through some changes would be an understatement. Coach Akers understands the need for stability, but has also impressed on his players the need for a return to the basics.
“Coach Hicks instilled a very workman like attitude in the players when he arrived in Pulaski County,” Coach Akers said. “It was based off of discipline and doing the right things. It was about doing what’s best for the team, on and off the field. It’s about having heart and a little grit. We’ve had a lot of great athletes come through this program, but in most seasons, we’ve never really had the total amount of overall talent that some programs have enjoyed. We took pride in being able to win with less than some programs had. It took teamwork and it took guts. It took a willingness to do the hard work and give it everything you had when you were on that field. They practiced the same way they played. We’re moving back in that direction now.”
As has often been the case in recent years, the Cougars will take the field Thursday at Mitchell Stadium as the underdogs.
“We want our players to embrace that,” Akers said. “There were a lot of years that when Pulaski County took the field, the other teams weren’t very excited. They knew what was coming. It was going to be a physical battle. We took a ton of pride in that. We’ve lost that to some point through the years. Showboating and beating our chest seemed to be more important sometimes than actually doing the hard work. Sometimes we seem to be more worried about finding someone to blame when we lose than fixing what caused it. Our kids need to take the field with a chip on their shoulders.”
“This season is a transitional one,” he continued. “We’re finding out some things about our guys. The good news for the future is that our starting lineup is full of very young players. If all of the freshmen and sophomores who are playing varsity were able to play just JV, that JV squad would be a pretty dang tough squad to beat. The experience those young players are getting now is going to pay off in the coming seasons. But we’re also looking at how we can get a few more wins this season. It’s going to take a very unselfish attitude by every player. Getting some stats in a game is great, but the program is what matters most. We can continue being average and win one or maybe two playoff games, or we can do the things we need to do to be better.”
Game time Thursday is set for 7 p.m.
As was the case when the Cougars traveled to Mitchell Stadium for the Bluefield game, there are certain rules Cougar fans need to be aware of. The following information was sent out by PCHS AD Scott Vest earlier in the week.
The Tazewell County Public Schools Clear Bag Policy appears below. This information will assist fans that attend any Tazewell County Public School events. Pulaski County travels to play Graham HS (TCPS) this Thursday in Varsity Football, so this policy will be in place for those planning to attend.
Fans are expected to follow these simple rules when attending Tazewell County Public Schools athletic events upon entering stadiums or gymnasiums. When entering any TCPS athletic event, all bags and items are subject to being searched.
Clear bags are easily and quickly searched. This policy supports the Department of Homeland Security’s, “If You See Something, Say Something Campaign.” This will also enable fans to move through gates much faster and allow security and staff to be more efficient and effective in checking bags. Fans will be able to enjoy activities with an improved sense of safety.
Permitted Items per Person:
· Bags that are clear plastic (vinyl or PVS) suggested size 12” X 6” X 12”
· One-gallon clear plastic freezer bag (Ziploc or similar)
· Rain gear (Worn or in a clear carrier)
· Small clutch purses no larger than 4.5” x 6.5”
· Mobile phones
· Binoculars (if in case the case may be inspected)
· Seat cushions/chairs (if in carry case/tote may be inspected)
· Radios with or without headsets (carry case may be inspected)
· Diapers and non-medically necessary items for babies and young children must be carried in a clear bag
· Needed medical equipment
· Strollers (will be subject to search at gate)
· Camera/Case (will be subject to search at gate)
· Computer bag/carrier (will be subject to search at gate)
· Unopened food/drinks that can fit in a clear bag that meets criteria (12” X 6” X 12” or Ziplock freezer bag)
Does everything need to be in a bag?
No. Things you normally carry in your pockets or jacket such as keys, makeup, feminine products, combs, wallets, credit cards, cash, etc., do not have to be in clear bags unless you choose to place the items there. Blankets can be carried over the arm.
The small clutch bag allows privacy for small personal items and is easily searched. It does not have to be clear but does need to meet the 4.5” X 6.5” dimensions.
Prohibited Items by All Fans:
· Non-clear bags of any size
· Backpacks (of any size)
· Fanny Packs, cinch bags
· Thermos/refillable drink bottles
· Alcoholic beverages
· Selfie sticks
· Unmanned aircraft (drones)
· Large bags or parcels, including backpacks and purses
· Weapons (including pocket knives)
· Hoverboards
· Segways
· Artificial noisemakers
· Vaping Devices or E-cigarettes
· All tobacco products
· Portable heaters
· Umbrellas