Tucker holds off Bulldogs
The Inter-Mountain photos by Joey Kittle Tucker County’s Blaike Adams is able to hang on to a reception despite being surrounded by a trio of Tygarts Valley players Friday night at R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field at Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium in Parsons.
Tygarts Valley’s Garrett Gibson collects the second of his two interceptions during Friday night’s game against Tucker County.
The Inter-Mountain photos by Joey Kittle Tucker County’s Blaike Adams is able to hang on to a reception despite being surrounded by a trio of Tygarts Valley players Friday night at R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field at Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium in Parsons.
Tygarts Valley’s Garrett Gibson collects the second of his two interceptions during Friday night’s game against Tucker County.
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The Inter-Mountain photos by Joey Kittle
Tucker County's Blaike Adams is able to hang on to a reception despite being surrounded by a trio of Tygarts Valley players Friday night at R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field at Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium in Parsons.
Tygarts Valley's Garrett Gibson collects the second of his two interceptions during Friday night's game against Tucker County.
PARSONS -- An opportunistic Tucker County squad claimed a 16-14 win over Tygarts Valley Friday night at R.H. Armstrong Memorial Field at Class of 1984 Alumni Stadium.
The Mountain Lions, who had dropped their last two meetings to the Bulldogs, overcame four turnovers and took advantage of a pair of mistakes by the visitors to even their record to 1-1 on the young season.
Leading 16-14 and facing a third-and-five from near midfield with just over 3 minutes left in regulation, a Mountain Lion fumble was recovered by Tygarts Valley.
Three plays led to a fourth-and-four and Tucker County's defense held the Bulldogs on downs to take over and proceed to run out the clock.
The Bulldogs (1-1) had taken a 7-0 lead with 1:46 left in the first quarter when Nate Hulver scooted in from seven yards out and Garrett Gibson added the conversion kick.
Tygarts Valley's defense, meanwhile, turned in a pair of goal-line stands in the second quarter to preserve the lead, the latter coming on Gibson's second interception of the night.
But the Mountain Lions were able to take advantage of the poor field position by the Bulldogs when junior defensive lineman Dom Mullenax swatted down a pass in the end zone and was able to collect the interception for the score with just 16 seconds left in the first half. Blaike Adams ran in the two-point conversion to make it 8-7 at the intermission.
Tygarts Valley wasted little time responding and regained the momentum, taking the second-half kickoff 65 yards in just six plays. Hulver capped the march with a 7-yard scamper and Gibson again tacked on the kick to give the Bulldogs a 14-8 cushion.
Forced to punt on its next possession, a low snap by Tygarts Valley gave the Mountain Lions possession at the Bulldog 11 with just over 4 minutes left in the third quarter.
After a holding penalty moved the ball to the 22-yard line, Tucker County quarterback Ethan Rosenau retrieved a low snap on a third-and-21 play and found a wide-open Adams for the connection to tie the contest at 14-14.
On the conversion attempt, a pair of procedure penalties moved the ball back to the 12. However, Rosenau was still able to find freshman Jared Reall for the successful two-point attempt to give the hosts the lead for good.
Neither offense produced more than 200 yards on the night.
Hulver led all rushers with 114 yards on the ground in the setback.
Adams paced the winners with 41 yards rushing while catching four passes for an additional 41 yards.
Tygarts Valley will remain on the road next Friday night at Webster County.
Tucker County will visit East Hardy on the same evening.