Playing in front of around 5,000 people the Radford Bobcats defeated the Pulaski Counity Cougars 17-7 in what is named as “ The Battle of the Bridge," a preseason scrimmage for two squads out of Southwest Virginia with high hopes for the upcoming 2019 campaign.

Radford scored in the opening quarter as PJ Prioleau - son of former NFL player and Virginia Tech great Pierson Prioleau - scampered 24 yards with just 44 seconds remaining and Conner Lytton's point after made it 7-0.

Pulaski County was forced to punt on their possession, but the Cougars would intercept a Bobcat pass as Logan Burchette ran in from 25 yards out to tie the game at seven-apiece with 8:26 remaining in the second quarter.

Radford would strike right back as QB Zane Rupe hit Xavier Cobbs on a 71-yard catch and run to put the them back up 14-7 heading into halftime.

The only score in the second half was Radford placekicker Lytton hit a 48-yard field goal with 5:48 left in the third quarter.

Radford Head Coach Matthew Saunders was pleased with what he saw from his group. "Our defense played really well tonight. Pulaski County is a very good team. Our guys up front carried us. I thought some of our kids really stepped up for us. Pulaski County is a good team.”

Keeping a Bobcats team that figures to be among the elite in Class 2 this year below 20 points was a step in the right direction for a Cougars program optimistic it can make some noise of their own out of Region 4D.

Pulaski Co. head coach Stephen James remarked, "Our defense played well," remarked Pulaski County Head Coach Stephen James, who know there is still room for improvement offensively as they get set for their opener. "I don’t think we blocked their linebackers all night. My hat is off to Radford; they are a really good team. They made a couple big plays and we made a couple of mistakes.”

Inside the Numbers:

Radford - 7, 7, 3, 0 = 17

Pulaski County - 0, 7, 0, 0 = 7

First Downs – Radford 11, Pul. Co. 9

Penalties- Radford 4-40 yds., Pul. Co. 7-85 yds.

Rushing -Radford – 34-79 yds., Pul. Co. 35=136 yds.

Passing – Radford – 100 yds., Pul. Co. 34

Punting – Radford 6- 35.8 avg., Pul. Co. 6-33.1 avg