( Senior running back Trevor Burton on a record tying touchdown in the third quarter.)
Cougar senior Trevor Burton ran the ball 35 times for 255 yards and two touchdowns, adding even more to his tremendous numbers, tying and then breaking the record for most rushing touchdowns in a season Friday night against Christiansburg. Unfortunately, the Cougars came up just short on the scoreboard against the Blue Demons in a 34-31 nailbiter.
With the loss, the Cougars move to 4-6 on the season. While not officially eliminated from the playoffs by the loss, there would need to be a long list of things to happen for Pulaski County to squeak in after sitting in ninth place in the VHSL Power Points last week.
“You guys went out there tonight and gave it a hundred percent,” Cougar Head Coach Cam Akers told his team after the game. “I know this loss hurts, but as coaches we are proud of the effort you’ve put up tonight and all season. I’m not ready to give up on us just yet. I want another game. We’ll know by the end of the weekend if we get it.”
The Cougars spotted Christiansburg 14 points before Nathan Pratt hit a 26-yard field goal with 20 seconds remaining in the first half. Both Christiansburg touchdowns came on big plays. One was an 84-yard run and the other a 63-yarder. Outside of that, the Blue Demons only had three first downs in the opening half.
Christiansburg added a score to open the second half on a 25-yard pass with 10:57 remaining in the third. The PAT failed, however, leaving the Cougars down 20-3.
The Cougars came roaring back. With 6:43 remaining in the third quarter Burton broke through the left side of the line and raced 37 yards for the score, tying the previous record of 26 rushing touchdowns in a season that was set by Craig Hodge in 1996. The PAT by Pratt moved the score to 20-10.
After the Cougars kicked and pinned Christiansburg deep against their own goal line, it looked like the Cougar defense caught the Blue Demon quarterback in the endzone for a safety, but he was ruled down at the one-yard line instead. The Blue Demons earned a first down and moved the ball out of the red zone, but Pulaski County got the ball back and took advantage when quarterback Christopher Gallimore ran into the endzone from seven yards out. Pratt hit the PAT to move the score to 20-17.
Christiansburg moved the ball quickly downfield and added an 18-yard touchdown pass to make it 27-17 after the PAT, but the Cougars didn’t give up.
Burton scored his second touchdown of the game, setting the new season record with 27 touchdowns, from six yards out with 5:36 remaining in the fourth quarter. The kick was good by Pratt, leaving the score at 27-24.
Christiansburg threw the ball deep, and despite the ball seeming to fly out of the receivers’ arms as he hit the ground, the play was ruled a 65-yard touchdown with 5:24 remaining in the game. The kick was good, putting the Blue Demons up 34-24.
Once again, the Cougars went to work. Near exhaustion, Burton and Gallimore took turns running the ball until Gallimore scored from nine yards out with 3:44 remaining in the game. The PAT by Pratt made it 34-31.
The Cougar defense gave it a great shot, eventually forcing a Christiansburg punt with around 12 seconds remaining. A pass completion was good to move the ball downfield, but with only two seconds remaining the Cougars couldn’t get a snap off to spike the ball and stop the clock.
The Cougars ended the game with 23 first downs compared to 14 by the Blue Demons. Pulaski County ran the ball 58 times for 367 yards. Christiansburg ran 29 times for 340 yards. Pulaski County completed three of 12 pass attempts for 43 yards, giving them 410 total yards of offense. Christiansburg completed five of eight passes for 83 yards, giving them 423 total yards.
Aside from the 35 carries for 255 yards, Gallimore added 19 carries for 101 yards and Tanner Mace ran three times for 10 yards. Tyler Underwood ran one time for one yard.
Mace caught one pass for 21 yards. Underwood caught one pass for 19 yards. Reed caught one pass for three yards.
Check out our Facebook page for more information as it becomes available this weekend on the playoff situation. The final official numbers will find either Pulaski County or Halifax County in the eighth and final position to begin the Class 4, Region D playoffs.