Photo by Steve Chamberlain Tygarts Valley’s Isaac Maxwell (2) breaks free for a gain against Ritchie County Friday evening at Bulldog Field in Mill Creek.

ELKINS — Turner Shriver threw a pair of touchdown passes and Ritchie County used a strong first half of play in holding off Tygarts Valley for a 26-12 victory Friday night at Bulldog Field.

The Rebels (2-5) jumped out to an 8-0 lead when Carter Satterfield powered in for a 1-yard touchdown with 7:30 left to play in the opening quarter. Kellen Cress ran in the two-point conversion.

Ritchie County extended its lead to 14-0 with 7:37 remaining in the half when Cress reeled in a 22-yard touchdown pass from Shriver.

With 3:32 left to play in the first half, Landen Hanlon gave the visitors a 20-0 edge when he scored on a 1-yard run.

Just before the end of the half, the Rebels put together a 7-play, 49-yard drive that was capped off by a 3-yard touchdown pass from Shriver to Jenner Keen with just three seconds remaining. The point-after failed and Ritchie County took a 26-0 lead into the break.

The Bulldogs (2-5) got on the board midway through the fourth quarter and cut the deficit to 26-6 when Austin Gear completed a 51-yard touchdown pass to Preston Smith.

Gear and Smith hooked up again for a 34-yard touchdown with 3:59 remaining in regulation to cut the Rebels’ lead to 26-12.

Ritchie County countered the score with three consecutive first downs to kill the remaining time left on the clock.

Carter Satterfield finished with 114 yards rushing for the Rebels.

Smith had 137 yards receiving for Tygarts Valley. Isaac Maxwell added 46 yards on the ground.

The Bulldogs will entertain rival Pocahontas County on Halloween night for their next contest.

Ritchie County will host St. Mary’s next Friday.