Mitchell B. Koerber
Student Sports Journalist
Friday night saw the least exciting second half of a Pocahontas County High School football game.
Facing off, at home, against the East Hardy Cougars, the Warriors came out firing on all cylinders. For the young team, they played good football for the first half. But then the wheels came off. The disappointing truth of the matter was a soul crushing 54 – 6 loss which the team will never forget.
Starting the game so promising, the Warriors stopped the Cougars and denied them the endzone by playing tough defense. They pressured the quarterback often and were able to sniff out and totally shut down East Hardy’s option play. When they received the ball on offense, sophomore, #9 Gavin Delair, from the Cougars 21-yard line, would pump fake and connect with senior, #4 Devon Burgess in the back of the endzone. Burgess, who has been one the Warriors’ stand out players each week would dive and catch the ball, one-handed, with two East Hardy defenders attempting to bring him down. He made an amazing touch-down catch and the crowd went wild with excitement. Coach Doug Burns would later state during the film review, “that was maybe the best catch I’ve ever seen at Pocahontas County High School.”
Unfortunately, for the Warriors, they couldn’t get much going in the third quarter, and beyond. The Cougars were able to take the wind out of their sails with some long runs behind a behemoth offensive line.
“This is what a full off-season spent in the weight room will get you,” noted many of the Warrior coaches, pointing to the East Hardy offensive and defensive lines.
PCHS’ weight training and conditioning program was non-existent in the 2023 season. Coach Burns is dedicated to changing that by improving the team’s strength and speed now and in the future, but the process takes time and cannot be rushed.
“Remember how this feels,” Coach Burns told his young team during the final seconds of Friday night’s game.
The team and the staff will never forget such a defeat. The Warriors will have plenty of time to reflect on this game, post season, but for now the team turns its attention to Homecoming against the Wirt County Tigers at Warrior Field Friday, October 11.
Kick-off is 7 p.m.
