The Shadow
WHO: Fort Defiance Indians (0-1) at Alleghany Cougars (1-0)
WHERE: Casey Field
WHEN: Friday, September 1, 2023, at 7:00 p.m.
LAST SEASON: Fort Defiance Indians (3-7), Alleghany Cougars (N/A, Inaugural Year)
The Alleghany Cougars are coming off a tremendous win following their season-opener against the Waynesboro Little Giants where the home team found themselves victorious with an impressive score of 35-7. Locals looked on as, in the opening kickoff, Purcell Turner returned a 95-yard kickoff in the first play of the game, resulting in an early 7-0 lead in less than 30 seconds of gameplay.
This Friday, the Cougars are hoping to bring that same fire onto the field, leaving more than mere pawprints on the turf. If the same magic returns from last week’s game, the Cougars are sure to bring home another victory for the home team.
Perhaps most of the magic, however, lay in their incredible ability to work together as one. From the mouths of babes.
There has inarguably been much hesitation and uncertainty within the community regarding the consolidation of the high schools, of the kids being together in one school, and whether or not the kids would be able to get along under one roof, in one school. It would seem those mindboggling questions were answered on the field.
The Virginian Review did not witness turbulence or turmoil on the field. There was no ugliness, no rivalry amongst the players, and no internal competition. Rather, there was sportsmanship, team play, high fives and celebration among the players following touchdowns or a good play. There was camaraderie, team unit, and a healthy appetite to devour one common enemy: the Little Giants. Perhaps we all could learn a little something from our offspring about working together as a unit.
Last week, I was given the opportunity to interview the head coach of the Alleghany Cougars: Coach Fields, who said —as he was quoted last week— ““It’s been seamless… Anytime you’re in a sports or a competitive situation, a common enemy bonds people more than anything I’ve ever seen. Since we’ve been out here in July and even back through the summer, Waynesboro’s been the opponent. Not each other.”
Coach Fields was right.
Not only should credit be given to these incredible athletes for the work they put on the field last week, but for the work they put into the community. For decades, it’s been the Mountaineers vs. the Cougars. Before that, another rivalry between the Colts and the Mountaineers. Last week, the same individuals who once battled it out on the field as each other’s arch-nemesis, found themselves hugging after touchdowns, fist-bumping when a fumble was forced, and screaming in delight when the defense held the line on the third down. The school may have been united as one, the team may have been united as one, but most importantly, the community was united as one.
Kudos to the football players for being the change, and to all the student-athletes at Alleghany High School who have shown the same united front at all the sporting events over the past few weeks.
Now it’s time for the Alleghany Cougars to focus on their next conquest: the Fort Defiance Indians. Nancy Jordan, Des Jordan’s mom, said, “I’m looking forward to another Cougar win!”
Colonel Chris Fisher, father of Keaton Fisher and organizer of the “Bike Rodeo” every year, offered up his advice to the team. “Unite as one, play as a team, and support each other.” Incredible words we could all live by.
In the meantime, we have learned that another fireworks show will be at the event and will be sponsored by Kyle Matt Moore. I caught up with him to ask him about it, to which he responded, “After watching the reaction of the fans and the players after last week’s victory, I felt that this should continue, and why not me being someone to help it along? I am working with my friends John Franson and Josh Johnston to make this happen. This community is great at standing behind its athletes and I want that to get even better because of the consolidation. The coaches did a great job preparing the players and they all need our support, so I hope we as a community can keep this ball rolling. See you at the game. Go Cougars!”
PLAYERS TO WATCH (ALLEGHANY COUGARS)
Des Jordan
Xzavier Hayslett
Purcel Turner
Matthew “Moose” Clayton
Hunter Knighton
Hunter Depriest
ABOUT THE OPPONENT:
When it comes to prior experience with Fort Defiance, there isn’t much to go on. Like Waynesboro from last week, it’s been ages since a football team from the Alleghany Highlands has come face-to-face with Fort Defiance. 23 years to be exact when the Alleghany Mountaineers fell to the Indians 35-14. However, this was clearly prior to any of the current players being born.
As such, we must look to how Fort Defiance faired last year. After opening their season with a loss, the team seemed to pick up steam with three straight wins in a row. However, the wind was soon knocked out of their sail when the remainder of the season left them winless. We could conclude that after the first few consecutive losses, morale may have played a large part in their 6-loss streak last year. Then again, there could be many reasons why the Indians seemed to be doing ok at 3-1 early in the season, then sink to a 3-7 record by the time the season concluded.
Their coach, Dan Rolfe, appears to be approaching the season with confidence in his team and a sense of unity akin to the one being felt by Cougar Nation. Rolfe said, “A lot of these kids have been playing on varsity since 9th grade, so they are basically coaches on the field at this point.”
PLAYERS TO WATCH (FORT DEFIANCE INDIANS)
Dell Ray Jones
Trey Miller
Talyn Armentrout
Jacob Shiflett
