ALLEGHANY CO.- Sirens were heard in the distance sometime around 6:30pm on Friday night, August 25th. It would be the sound that rang in the Alleghany Cougars football season as the team with a roster of 41 players were ushered in by police escort.
The players, donned in their new school colors of navy and Carolina blue, descended the stairs of the school buses like warriors prepared for battle. One by one, they made their way to the locker rooms to gear up for their first ever football game since the consolidation.
As they dressed, the Virginian Review took note of the incredible new upgrades that Casey Field has seen over the summer. New seats in the stands, fresh paint, new scoreboards, banners all around marking their territory as the Alleghany Cougars, concession upgrades the team’s name “COUGARS” painted on the grass in the endzones, and even the Casey Field sign has changed to represent the stunning new school colors.
Finally, the moment arrived when the Alleghany Cougars took the field. With blue smoke rising on the field as the cheerleaders held the banner which the players would soon destroy, the crowd growled as they packed the stadium in. The signature cougar sound roared over the intercom as the crowd cheered in delight, signaling the combined school of players to rush through the cheerleaders’ banner.
It was time to play. After the coin toss, the Cougars received the ball. Waynesboro kicked, and it was caught by #14 Purcel Turner (WR/DB) who ran the ball in for a 95-yard-touchdown. In less than 30 seconds into the ballgame, the newly formed Alleghany Cougars Football Team had scored their first touchdown. The field goal, kicked by #26 Mason Hale (K/P) was good, getting the Cougars off to an early 7-0 lead.
With 5:14 remaining on the clock, Alleghany Cougar #3 Des Jordan (QB/DB) ran the ball in for a 54- yard touchdown, extending the Cougars lead to 13-0. Fireworks exploded in the air in celebration as cheers erupted from the crowd. #26 Mason Hale (K/P) stepped up once again for the extra point, successfully raising the score to 14-0.
As the rest of the quarter and most of the second remained scoreless for both teams, the Waynesboro Little Giants made a bold move from their own 25 on 4th-and-12, obviously hoping for a touchdown or, at the very least, a first down. It was an endeavor that would prove unsuccessful as the play resulted in an incomplete pass.
The first half was inching toward conclusion as Alleghany crept closer and closer to the end zone. Then, with 2:54 left on the clock, the Cougars fumbled the ball, and it was recovered by the Little Giants, who were unable to capitalize on the turnover.
With 15 seconds left on the clock in the first half, #3 Des Jordan completed a 40-yard pass to #2 Xzavier Hayslett (WR/DB) which resulted in another Alleghany Cougar touchdown! #26 Mason Hale stepped in to kick a successful field goal, resulting in a shutout for the first half of the football game. Alleghany 21, Waynesboro 0.
For the halftime show, the color guard and band took the field to introduce the crowd to the new fight song made up, in part, of fight songs from the past. It was a culmination of the Alleghany County High School Colts’ fight song, the Alleghany High School Mountaineers’ fight song, and the Covington Cougars’ fight song.
The players took the field after halftime to kick off to Waynesboro. Late in the third quarter, #3 Des Jordan completed a 25-years pass to #2 Xzavier Hayslett, who ran the ball in for a touchdown, making the score 27-0. #26 Mason Hale returned to kick another successful field goal, leaving the score Alleghany 28, Waynesboro 0. It left 5:06 remaining on the clock before the fourth quarter.
Shortly after, #1 J’yon Smith (QB/DB) ran in a 50-yard punt return, leaving #26 Mason Hale to kick yet another successful extra point. The score was now 35-0, Alleghany.
With less than eight minutes remaining in the ballgame, the Waynesboro Little Giants scored their first touchdown. E. Miller for Waynesboro ran a 50-yard touchdown. Vasquez kicked the extra point for the Little Giants, which was good.
The remainder of the ballgame was scoreless, resulting in a final of: Alleghany, 35 and Waynesboro, 7.
Jordan was 5-for-5 for 100 yards and two TDs and ran for 54 and a score. Hayslett had three catches for 73 yards and two scores. Moose Clayton picked up two tackles, a sack and forced a fumble and Gavin Via had two stops and a forced fumble as well.
Stats courtesy of Jordan Bailey.