Mitchell B. Koerber
Student Sports Journalist
Many would consider this first game to be an unfortunate start to kick off the Pocahontas County High School Football season. Despite losing 54-6, the Warriors see this as a strict learning opportunity to hopefully improve from their mistakes, work harder during their own practices, and bring home a welcome victory.
The game, in Parsons, started with a tremendous kick-off from the Warriors to the Mountain Lions by junior, #5, Hayden Moore. Then on Tucker County’s fourth play from scrimmage #30, Jared Reel, pulled off a whopping 46-yard cut back run before finally being brought down by PCHS sophomore, #8, Anthony Bennett. As the next three plays went on, the Warrior defense held strong until, on a fourth and two, Lions’ QB Samuel Marx found Lukas Barr leading to a two-yard touchdown pass and a Mountain Lions’ lead.
After a three and out, the Mountain Lions were able to block a Pocahontas County punt. An unfortunate call after an obvious turnover, gave the Mountain Lions the ball back at the Warriors’ 20-yard line. On the next play, Marx completed a 20-yard touchdown pass to #13, Reid Kizamore.
The Mountain Lions never looked back. Now at 16-0, and with the Mountain Lions on defense, the Warriors attempted a long pass but it was intercepted by #26, Keelyn Echelberger. This would then lead to yet another 15-yard touchdown pass from Marx to #14, Garrett Wilfong, with the Mountain Lions jumping to a quick 24 – 0 lead.
As time ran out in the first quarter, Warrior QB Logan Keatley went down with an apparent rib injury. After a nervous delay in regulation play, Keatley was carted off the sideline bench by EMS and taken to the hospital. His prognosis was later diagnosed as positive, and he is expected to return within four to five days
At the start of the second quarter, the Warriors turned to sophomore QB Gavin Delair. Making his debut for Pocahontas County, Delair, on his first play of the game, connected on a colossal 65-yard touchdown pass to #4, senior, Devon Burgess. Burgess made an outstanding catch, stayed in bounds and found his way to the end zone. Afterward, Delair remarked, “seeing Logan get hurt was rough, but it motivated me to step up and make a big play for our team.”
After the game, Coach Doug Burns traveled to the hospital to visit Keatley.
“It was an enormous relief to get the news from the doctor about Logan,” Coach Burns said.
Coach Burns stated that Keatley was eager to get back to playing football but the coach will monitor him and not rush his return.
The Warriors are on the road again this week as they head to Fayette County to face the Meadow Bridge Wildcats. On August 30, Meadow Bridge won their first game of the season after Van High School forfeited due to lack of players.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
The stadium address is 762 Meadow Bridge Rd, Meadow Bridge, WV.
