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PHILIPPI -- The Philip Barbour Colts opened their season with a 30-29 victory over the Grafton Bearcats in the last play of the game on the leg of sophomore kicker Ayden Thorne.
Thorne made the 20-yard field goal with four seconds left on the clock. The Colts were led by running back Landyn Carpenter and quarterback Robbie Jones.
Grafton won the toss and elected to defer until the second half. The Colt’s first drive stalled in Grafton territory and the Colts turned the ball over on downs at 9:41 in the first quarter. In their first drive, Grafton went three and out and was forced to punt to the Colts with 7:59 left in the first quarter.
The Colts took over and opened the drive with a 9-yard rush by Carpenter and 1-yard rush in the second play to gain the first down.
The Colts, running a high-tempo offense, followed up with another rush from Carpenter, but the a holding flag cost PB 10 yards. On the first and 15 play, the Colts ran a double hand-off and Mason Jones took the ball for two yards. PBHS quarterback Robbie Jones gained a first down with a QB keeper. Following a Carpenter rush of four yards on first and he then had a short loss on second down.
Jones then found Colts wide receiver Tristen Price down the field for a reception at at the four-yard line. A false start pushed the Colts back five yards and they followed it up with Jones keeping the ball and rushing for a yard. The Colts took a time out with third and goal and 3:32 left in the first quarter. Carpenter took the ball for one yard leaving the Colts with 4th and goal. Carpenter took the fourth down rush five yards into the end zone with 2:25 left in the first quarter.
After the kick-off, Grafton went three and out and the Colts’ Sean Dent recorded a sack on the third down play. The Colts took over with 23 seconds left in the first and went three and out. The Colts were flagged for having too many players on the field, which pushed the Colts back five yards. During the punt, PB’s Tristan Price was called for holding and Grafton took over on their own 37 yard line.
The second quarter was largely controlled by Grafton, who kept the ball for over half the quarter. Grafton opened the drive with a loss of one yard in the rush, but completed a screen pass on the next play for a first down at the Colt’s 46. Grafton pushed into the red zone and following a couple rushes included a run on fourth and one for a first down that was called back for holding.
Grafton had the ball on the 22-yard line when Philip Barbour was called for a personal foul after the play, giving the Bearcats a first down. Grafton took a time out with first and 10 on the Philip Barbour 11-yard line. Grafton threw for a touchdown on third and long. Grafton’s JW Nestor caught the pass and the Bearcats kicked the extra point tying the game at 7-7 with 4:55 left in the second.
Philip Barbour took position of the ball on their own 27-yard line. Jones was sacked on the first play of the drive following a bad snap. The next play, Colts’ receiver Halen Greaver caught the ball after it was nearly intercepted. On third down, Carpenter rushed for a short gain and the Colts got the first down on a 1-yard rush from Jones. Later in the drive, Jones completed a pass to Carpenter, who was brought down at the 11-yard line. Philip Barbour’s rushing attack scored with Carpenter crossing the goal line with 37 seconds left in the second quarter. The extra point attempt was blocked.
Philip Barbour kicked off with 37 seconds left in the second half. Grafton’s Jacob Moats returned the kick 90 yards for a touchdown, tying the game at 13. Grafton made the extra point and went into the half with a 14-13 lead.
The second half was a back and forth affair. Grafton had to punt on their opening drive of the half with 9:22 left in the third. The punt was downed on the Colts’ 3-yard line. On the first play of the drive, Carpenter broke a tackle and rushed the ball 97 yards for the score. The extra point was good with 9:01 left in the third.
Grafton went three and out on their next drive. The Colts took over and on the fourth play of the drive, Carpenter fumbled the ball and Grafton took possession with 5:15 left in the third quarter. Grafton was forced to punt again and on the following drive, Carpenter fumbled the ball a second time after a big hit. Grafton scored on the opening play of drive and took the lead 21-20 with just over three minutes left in the third quarter.
A stalled Philip Barbour drive, led to the Bearcats taking possession with 11:10 left in the game. Grafton capped off the drive with a touchdown and a two-point conversion taking the 29-20 lead with 6:11 left in the fourth quarter. Philip Barbour started their drive on their own 35-yard line after a late hit penalty by Grafton. On the first play of the drive, Carpenter found Price wide open for a touchdown bringing the score to 29-27 following the extra point.
Grafton began their drive on their own 20-yard line after the kick-off went through the end zone. After a short drive, Grafton was forced to punt with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter. The Colts went for a deep throw on first down that was incomplete, were stopped for no gain on second down and Price was sacked on third down. On fourth down with 20 yards to the first-down marker, the Colts went for it and the pass was batted down. Grafton took over with 3:11 left in the game.
The Colts held the Bearcats with fourth and 1 with 1:08 left in the game. The Bearcats fumbled with ball and the Colts took over at the Grafton 35-yard line. Jones found Carpenter on first down for a 25-yard reception leaving 58 seconds on the clock, and Carpneter hauled in another pass on the next play, bringing the Colts to the Grafton 25-yard line.
Jones spiked the ball, stopping the clock, but Grafton was flagged for too many players on the field with 12 seconds to go. The Colts handed the ball off to Carpenter who rushed the ball to the seven-yard line.
The Colts took their final timeout before sending Thorne onto the field to attempt the game-winning field goal with 4 seconds left on the clock. Grafton called their final timeout in an attempt to "ice" the kicker, but the effort fell short as Thorne kicked the game winner with time running out.