Not on the schedule? Jefferson Forest and Pulaski County play anyway
Sabre Stadium, Forest VA – The Jefferson Forest Cavaliers and Pulaski Cougars didn’t have much time to prepare for each other. Both teams were scheduled to play different schools this week but due to COVID-19 quarantines for both teams’ original opponents, they found each other matching up in Sabre Stadium. The game itself showed a lot about both teams. Pulaski, for example has quite the offense putting up 500 yards of total offense even with several big plays being called back due to penalty.
Pulaski Head Coach Mark Dixon did not hide his frustration with these penalties, “I think it is the most I’ve had called back in my career.” Jefferson Forest showed they aren’t looking to beat you on the ground as they had QB 19 Josiah Bell attempt 42 passes. It wasn’t all offense though, both teams had big plays and hits on the defensive side of the ball making it well worth the price of admission.
Jefferson Forest QB 19 Joe Bell sits in the pocket
First Quarter –
Jefferson Forest opened the game with confidence moving the ball down the field with a couple of crisp passes from QB 19 Bell.
The Cougar defense was looking to make a statement early and it certainly did with a 53-yard interception for a touchdown from WR/S 4 John Lyman putting Pulaski up 7-0 with 8:58 remaining.
Pulaski County DB 4 John Lyman gets a pick 6
On the ensuing kickoff Lyman made his presence felt again laying down a big hit. The Cavilers were forced to punt after only gaining 1-yard on their second possession of the game. Pulaski took over at their own thirty-eight-yard line for their first possession of the game. WR/RB 4 Lyman quickly found the end zone again this time on a 62-yard touchdown run to make it 14-0 in favor of the cougars with 6:28 remaining in the 1st. 
Jefferson Forest went on the attack again but ran into a brick wall with back-to-back sacks forcing them to punt it away. The kick was returned by you guessed it, Lyman again, and the Senior returned it inside the twenty-yard line of the Cavaliers. The home team stood tall this time on defense forcing a field goal that was missed giving them the ball back. The Cavaliers couldn’t do anything with the momentum on the following drive and were forced to punt it back to the cougars. However, the Cavalier defense stepped up again. This time it was DB 81 Donovan Elliot hauling in an interception to give JF the ball. Forest ended the first quarter with a deep pass to WR 14 Colton Childress. The Cavs had possession inside the Pulaski red zone.
Bell and Jeff Forest weren’t shy about putting the ball up as the QB threw it 41 times on the night
Second Quarter –
Jefferson Forest was unable to find the end zone after a wild snap caused a huge loss. The Cavaliers did however find the scoreboard with a 37-yard field goal. That made the score 14-3, Pulaski, with 9:56 remaining. The Cougars took over on their own thirty-four and on the first play John Lyman ran in a 66-yard touchdown, but it was called back due to holding. This was the first major play called back for Pulaski and it wouldn’t be the last. Following the penalty, Jefferson Forest dug their heels in the ground and forced a punt. Taking over on their own twenty-nine-yard line but the Cougars pounced quick with a big hit on QB Bell forcing a fumble and giving them possession on the JF twenty-four-yard line. Pulaski marched down the field ending in 7-yard touchdown pass from QB 1 Cam Cooper to RB 7 Keyontae Kennedy. That TD pass and catch stretched the lead to 21-3 with 5:51 to go in the half.
Cougar RB 7 Keyontae Kennedy
Jefferson Forest couldn’t find success on their next drive struggling with three straight fumbled snaps. That led the Cavs to punt the ball back to Pulaski. Pulaski took over on their own ten-yard line and quickly put together a long drive. The Cougars had a 33-yard touchdown run from Keyontae Kennedy called back. This would be the 2nd major play called back, but this time the Cougars would bounce back from this penalty. On the very next play Kennedy would follow the last one up with a 43-yard touchdown run to make the score 28-9 with 2:52 to go.
Jefferson Forest would respond, on the next drive starting on their own thirty-yard line the Cavaliers were able to move the ball fueled by back-to-back deep completions and a face mask penalty they were able to march down the field and score on a 10-yard touchdown pass from Josiah Bell to WR 1 Daniel Price making the score 28-9 heading into the intermission.
Cav WR 1 Daniel Price hauls in a touchdown pass from 10 yards out
Third Quarter –
The opening drive of the second half saw the Cougars start on their own twenty-five-yard line. Riding the momentum from the first half, the Cougars moved the ball to the Cavaliers forty six yard line. After having a third major play of the night called back, this time a 46-yard touchdown pass, the Cougars had to punt the ball back to the Cavaliers. The Cavaliers showed life with their opening possession of the second half. Starting at their own eighteen-yard line they drove to the Pulaski twenty-five-yard line before turning it over on downs. Pulaski took over at their own twenty-five-yard line. The Cougars would quickly go 75 yards and end the drive with a 16-yard touchdown catch from John Lyman making the score 35-9 with 5:18 to go. Jefferson Forest could only muster one first down on their ensuing drive quickly punting the ball back to the Cougars. The following drive Pulaski would see their 4th major play called back, a 70-yard touchdown pass, forcing the Cougars to punt. Jefferson Forest started at their own thirty-six-yard line following the punt and strung along a great drive heading into the fourth quarter.
Fourth Quarter –
Jefferson Forest was able to continue their offensive drive into the 4th scoring a 20-yard touchdown pass from Josiah Bell to WR 25 Brian Aveson capping off a 64-yard drive to make the score 35-16 with 11:50 remaining in the ball game.
Cav WR 25 Brian Aveson after the catch
Pulaski took over at their own twenty-five-yard line on the next drive going 75 yards including a 68-yard touchdown run from RB 3 Trevor Burton to make the score 42-16 with 10 minutes left in the game.
Pulaski RB 3 Trevor Burton turns on the after burners in a long TD run
On the next drive for Jefferson Forest QB Josiah Bell would be intercepted by DL 53 Diego Turner. Two plays later, Pulaski scored the final touchdown of the night this time an 18-yard run from Trevor Burton making it 49-16. Jefferson Forest started the next drive at their own thirty-four-yard line and were able to move it to the Pulaski twenty-seven-yard line before John Lyman made his second interception of the night. In the end it was the high-powered offense and stingy defense from Pulaski that proved to be too much for Jefferson Forest as Pulaski wins 49-16. – Josiah Elmore
Offense:
Rushing: Pulaski – T. Burton 13/210, 2 TDs, K. Kennedy 4/66, TD J. Lyman 3/61, TD, C. Cooper 3/14, A. McNeil 2/7
Jefferson Forest – A. Marstellar 8/49, R. Rodgers 4/10, E. Boon 1/1
Passing: Pulaski – Cooper 7/13, 142, 2 TD
Jefferson Forest – Bell 22/42, 268, 2 TD, 2 INT
Receiving: Pulaski – T. Underwood 2/64, J. Gulley 2/45, J. Lyman 2/18, TD, K. Kennedy 1/7, TD
Jefferson Forest – B. Jackson 9/110, B. Aveson 5/64, TD, C. Childress 2/38, D. Price 4/27, TD
Scoring:
1st Quarter –
8:48 J: Lyman 53-yard INT TD
6:28 J: Lyman 62-yard rushing TD
2nd Quarter –
9:56 A: Marsteller 37-yard FG
5:51 C: Cooper 7-yard TD pass to Keyontae Kennedy
2:52 K: Kennedy 43-yard rushing TD
1:30 J:Bell 10-yard TD pass to Daniel Price
3rd Quarter –
5:18 C:Cooper 16-yad TD pass to John Lyman
4th Quarter –
11:10 J:Bell 20-yard TD pass to Brian Aveson
10:01 T:Burton 68-yard rushing TD
9:02 T:Burton 18-yard rushing TD