Local Sports

Tigers lose heartbreaker to Moorefield, 33-30

MOOREFIELD - The Elkins Tigers fell to the Moorefield Yellow Jackets 33-30 in a hard-fought contest Friday night.

After a rainy afternoon, Yellow Jacket Stadium’s wet grass had an effect on both teams’ footing and ball-handling during the game.

The back-and-forth contest featured five lead changes and three onside kicks.

Each team had to punt on its first two possessions. In the second quarter, EHS running back Tony Silvester took a hand-off, cut back and ripped off a 58-yard run to score the first points of the game. The extra point attempt was no good after a bad snap, leaving the Tiger lead at 6-0.

On the next Moorefield possession, the Tigers’ Xavier Workman recovered a fumble on the Moorefield 33-yard line. Plays later, Workman made a bobbled catch in the end zone on a 20-yard TD pass from quarterback Cyrus Kump.

Robinson carried into the end zone for the two-point conversion, pushing the EHS lead to 14-0.

Moorefield was forced to punt again, and after driving the ball deep into the Yellow Jackets’ territory,

Tiger kicker Dyer Barger booted a 33-yard field goal on his first attempt of the season, putting the Tigers up 17-0.

Moments later, Moorefield running back Bill Lewis electrified the Moorefield home crowd with a 95-yard kickoff return for a touchdown. The extra point by Jackson Helmick was good, cutting the Tigers’ lead to 17-7.

After the kickoff, the Tiger offense drove the ball to the Moorefield 15 before stalling. Barger then came out to attempt a 31-yard field goal, but after a bad snap, he picked up the ball and was chased out of bounds, ending the half with the score still 17-7.

In the opening moments of the second half, Moorefield’s Lewis broke loose once again with a 72-yard touchdown carry. Helmick’s extra point made the score 17-14 in the Tigers’ favor.

Moorefield then surprised the Tigers with an onside kick that bounced off one of the Tigers’ up-backs and was recovered by the Yellow Jackets, who took over at the Tigers’ 49-yard line.

On the next play, the Yellow Jackets’ Caleb Flinn took a carry to the house for a 49-yard touchdown run. The extra point was no good, but Moorefield’s two quick scores in the second half had given them the lead, 20-17.

Moorefield once again tried an onside kick, but Isaac Shepler recovered for the Tigers. Starting from the EHS 45-yard line, Robinson picked up 13 yards on a first-down run, 8 more yards on the next play, and then a short-yardage first down on the next.

Jones then dashed into the end zone on a 16-yard scamper. Barger kicked the extra point, putting the Tigers back on top, 24-20.

Moorefield advanced the ball into Tigers territory on their next possession, with Lewis breaking tackles on a carry to the EHS 21-yard line. Inside the red zone, Iman snuck the ball to the 11-yard line. On third and inches, the Tigers were called offsides, setting up a first and goal at the EHS 6-yard line.

Iman carried the ball to the 1-yard line, but was then stopped on third and goal. On fourth down from the 1, Flynn carried into the end zone. The Helmick extra point attempt was good, putting Moorefield on top once again at 27-24.

On the Tigers’ next possession, now in the fourth quarter, Silvester burst into the open, running the ball to the Moorefield 29-yard line.

Robinson scored on the very next play, running through multiple defenders for a 29-yard touchdown run. Another mishandled snap led to the extra point attempt failing, with the scoreboard showing Elkins ahead once again, 30-27.

Moments later, Iman broke a QB keeper all the way to the EHS 2-yard line. Lewis then scored on a TD run. Helmick missed the extra point, putting the Yellow Jackets back on top, 33-30.

Elkins battled back again, taking the ball to the Moorefield 39-yard line before stalling. On fourth and 8, a deep pass from Kump to Workman was broken up, but officials threw a flag on the play. The call was pass interference on the offense, which Moorefield declined, taking over the ball on downs.

Starting on the Moorefield 37-yard line, EHS was called for offsides two plays in a row, giving the Yellow Jackets a first down without running a play. Moorefield then focused on running the ball, trying to run out the clock.

On fourth down and 13, Moorefield’s Helmick punted the ball back to the Tigers, with 4:09 left in the game.

On the Tigers’ first play of the possession, Silvester carried the ball to the 44-yard line and got out of bounds to stop the clock. On the next play, Kump took a keeper down the right sideline for a 45-yard gain, taking the ball to the Moorefield 12-yard line.

With just over 2 minutes left to play, Elkins turned the ball over on a Robinson fumble. Moorefield’s offense was contained by the Tigers on three straight plays, however, and Helmick punted the ball back to Elkins one final time, with Workman returning it to the Moorefield 41.

With 1:03 left on the clock, the Tigers took over the ball with no time outs. Silvester picked up 13 yards on the first play and managed to get out of bounds to stop the clock.

With 35 seconds to play, a pitch to Robinson picked up a first down, with him getting out of bounds as well.

With 25 seconds in the game, Kump’s pass to Workman was tipped away by a Moorefield defender. At 19 seconds left, Kump went back to pass, but then had to scramble and run out of bounds.

Barger came out to attempt a game-tying field goal at 13 seconds to go. The snap was bad once again, however, with Barger falling on the loose ball. Moorefield then went into victory formation to run out the clock.

Robinson gained 148 yards rushing in the game, with Silvester adding 133.

The Tigers (1-1) will host Lewis County next Friday.

The Yellow Jackets (1-1) will be on the road to face Hampshire.