AAA National
Victorious Hawks keep coach in mind
Hayfield 34, Falls Church 13
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Hayfield seniors Anton McCallum and Rayshawn Rigans can't hear the blare of Coach Billy Pugh's terse, raspy voice. They no longer get to listen to his inspiring locker room speeches or sideline tirades.
But they know what he would be telling them.
"He would say, 'Play every game like it's your last,' " McCallum said of his coach, who is recovering after suffering a stroke earlier this month. McCallum heeded those words -- the senior quarterback rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown and passed for 120 yards and a touchdown Friday in Hayfield's 34-13 home victory over Falls Church.
The victory continued the Hawks' run from 1-9 doormats last season to a 7-2 overall record and 6-0 in the Virginia AAA National District. Falls Church fell to 4-5, 3-3.
" 'Keep it going,' he would say 'Keep it going,' " said Rigans, a speedy defensive back and punt-returner who rushed for 61 yards and three touchdowns on 19 carries.
Pugh, a 49-year-old teacher at Hayfield and the school's football coach since 1998, was transferred this week to Inova Mount Vernon Hospital in Alexandria, where he will begin an intense rehabilitation program in hopes of restoring the motion he lost on the left side of his body during an Oct. 19 stroke he suffered at the school just minutes before football practice.
Pugh's Hawks averaged nearly six wins per season before neighboring South County opened its doors in 2005 and depleted the school's talent pool. Since then, Hayfield won just four games in four years and went winless in 2006.
"When they opened [South County] a lot of coaches left for greener pastures, but Billy stayed to see this thing through," said interim coach Roy Hill, a longtime assistant and the school's wrestling coach. "And now, he doesn't get to see all this."
McCallum and Rigans suffered through the toughest of years with Pugh, earning just two wins in their career before this season's seven-win start.
McCallum, a dual threat who is garnering interest from Delaware, James Madison, Pittsburgh, Rhode Island, Temple, Shepherd and Illinois, has thrived in the triple-option offense, racking up 36 carries, 381 yards and 9 touchdowns. He threw a first-quarter touchdown Friday before Rigans added two first-half touchdowns to give the Hawks a 21-0 lead at halftime.
