Stingy Amherst defense smothers Pulaski

DUBLIN — Amherst’s defense was not about to let Pulaski County deny them another trip to the state championship.

Led by spunky linebacker A.J. Parrish, the defense’s tenacity set up both Lancer touchdowns and held off a strong Cougar offense to win 13-7 at Dobson Field on Saturday in the Group AA, Division 4 semifinal game.

The score was tied at 7 early in the fourth quarter when the Cougars (12-1) had the ball on their 36-yard line. Fullback E.J. Dobbins had converted two first downs in the series, but quarterback Luke Watson opted for the pass, which was cleanly picked off by Parrish in the lane.

“I just dropped back in my pass coverage,” said Parrish, who had rolled his ankle three plays earlier. “I saw No. 33 open so I moved back to guard him, then jumped up and got it.”

Lancers’ coach Cecil Phillips teased Parrish in the huddle after the game, calling him 5-foot-4 instead of the roster listing — 5-foot-10 — but Phillips was well aware of Parrish’s contribution in breaking open the game.

“I don’t think our defense has gotten the respect it deserves all year long. Big-time players make big-time plays in big ball games, and I don’t think there were any bigger out there than the one A.J. Parrish made at the end to set us up for the touchdown,” Phillips said.

Having been assessed a holding penalty after the interception, the Lancers began their drive on Pulaski’s 49-yard line. Running backs Mario Vaughan and Devonte Brown marched down the field with quarterback Anthony Rose, draining five minutes off the clock before Rose scored a one-yard touchdown to take the lead.

“Brown pushed me in the end zone. That’s family,” Rose said. “The first three quarters our offense wasn’t clicking at all. Then, fourth quarter, (we) just came out strong, came out as a family and got the win. We just looked each other in the eye and said we weren’t going to lose.”

With less than a minute remaining, the Cougars went to the pass. Watson threw one incomplete and then ran for seven after being flushed from the pocket. On a 3rd-and-three, he fumbled the snap and Amherst’s Thomas Sandidge jumped on it to seal the game.

The Lancers had to play catch-up early. Virginia Tech recruit Nubian Peak ran for a 34-yard gain to set up Dobbins’ 6-yard touchdown up the middle. Matt Songer kicked the extra point for a 7-0 Cougar lead to close the first quarter.

After a three-and-out for the Lancers, the Cougars looked for another scoring drive. But Amherst’s defense came through, starting with Kirby Anderson sacking Watson.

Then Lancer Charles Eubanks took Peak down at the line of scrimmage. Watson threw a pass away under pressure from a blitzing Tyrease Brown, and the Cougars had to punt.

This stop sparked the offense, which made steady gains including a 56-yard pass from Rose to tight end Taylor Grubbs. Rose punched through the Cougar line for a 3-yard touchdown and Tyler Dawson made the kick to knot the score.

In the third quarter, Amherst’s running game couldn’t find the seams, and the Cougars stopped them three times on a short field, even after Vaughan busted a 69-yard kickoff return to open the half.

“They did a great job of containing our sweep,” Phillips said. “They were a physical ball club. In the end, I knew these kids had been here before, and I think the experience of being here before helped them in crunch time.”

The Lancers (12-1) will play Broad Run next Saturday at Liberty University. The Group AA, Division IV, state championship game begins at 4:45 p.m.