Elkins runs past Grafton; Richwood holds off TV

GRAFTON – Jaden Hatfield and Seth Robinson both eclipsed the 100-yard rushing mark to help power Elkins to a 44-21 victory over Grafton Friday night in Big 10 Conference action at McKinney Field.

Hatfield finished the contest with 267 yards and four touchdowns, while Robinson tallied 129 yards and two scores for the Tigers (5-1, 5-0), who jumped out to a 7-0 lead when Hatfield scampered in for a 17-yard touchdown at the 7:25 mark of the first quarter.

Hatfield set up his own score with a 40-yard run on the drive that started after Elkins forced a turnover on downs by the Bearcats on the opening possession of the game.

After forcing a Grafton punt on its next drive, the Tigers struck again when Robinson raced into the endzone from 18 yards out to make it 14-0 with 2:56 left in the opening quarter.

The Bearcats (3-3, 2-2) cut the deficit to 14-7 less than a minute later when Cash Nestor broke free for a 40-yard touchdown. Chace Kinsey set up the score with a 40-yard run of his own.

Elkins answered back when Hatfied scored his second touchdown of the game on a 19-yard run that capped off a 5-play, 66-yard drive just before the end of the opening quarter.

After the Tigers collected two points on a safety, Hatfield scored his third touchdown of the game on a 14-yard run that pushed the Elkins lead to 30-7 with 4:37 remaining in the first half.

Grafton cut the Tigers’ lead to 30-14 just before the half when Kinsey threw a 13-yard touchdown pass to Jeramiah Quinn.

Hatfield scored his fourth touchdown of the game on Elkins’ opening possession of the second half when he broke free for an 88-yard touchdown that made it 36-14 at the 10:21 mark.

The Bearcats trimmed the Tigers’ lead to 36-21 with 5:28 left to play in the game when Kinsey threw a 19-yard touchdown pass to Jacob Moats.

But Elkins iced the win with 4:22 remaining when Robinson scored his second touchdown of the game on a 71-yard run. Hatfield ran in the two-point conversion to make it 44-21.

The Tigers will entertain North Marion next Friday, while Grafton travels to Robert. C. Byrd the same evening.

Richwood 20, Tygarts Valley 13

RICHWOOD – Fawkes O’dell ran for 190 yards and scored three touchdowns as Richwood held off Tygarts Valley for a 20-13 win Friday night in non-conference action at Dean Memorial Field.   

The Bulldogs (0-6) opened the scoring in the contest and took a 7-0 lead when Isaac Maxwell powered into the endzone for a 1-yard touchdown at the 6:40 mark of the first quarter.   

The Lumberjacks (2-3) cut the deficit to 7-6 when Grady Hall threw an 11-yard touchdown pass to O’dell with 1:36 remaining in the opening stanza.  Richwood went in front 12-7 when O’dell scored on a 49-yard run with 11:40 left to play in the first half.   

O’dell added another score early in the fourth quarter to extend the lead to 20-7 before an Adam Woods touchdown at the 5:02 mark cut the deficit to 20-13 and kept Tygarts Valley’s hopes alive.   

The Lumberjacks staved off an onside kick attempt by the Bulldogs after Woods’ score and was able to kill the remaining time on the game clock to preserve the win.     

Elijah Stanley finished the contest with 106 yards rushing and 47 yards passing for Tygarts Valley. Woods added 59 yards on the ground and pulled in two receptions.    

The Bulldogs will entertain East Hardy next Friday. Richwood will travel to Clay-Battelle the same night.