Mitchell B. Koerber
Student Sports Journalist
The conclusion of the Pocahontas County High School Football Season has come.
Ending the season with a record of 3 – 7 and ending an away game against the Webster County Highlanders with a winning score of 20 – 0 – a shutout!
The Warriors have much to be proud of, celebrating their last win as the enemy team would shout in rage and disappointment. If the Highlanders would have won the game, they would have been able to fill a playoff spot, but Pocahontas County denied them of that opportunity.
The night started off as a shock to Webster County as you could see the surprise in their eyes when they realized that they couldn’t move the ball against the Warriors. Pocahontas County’s big interior line, forcing the Highlanders to run the edges, which usually works to their advantage. However, the Warriors’ linebackers and over-hangs would crush any outside threats.
So, the Highlanders went to their passing game. That’s when they were introduced to #34, Sophomore Austin Price. With 1:52 left in the second quarter, starting at the Highlanders’ own 45-yard line, the team would attempt a double-reverse pass. This play had been successful for Webster numerous times this year, however, the Warriors’ defense, trained by Defensive Coordinator Matt Buzzard, was well-prepared for this. Price would come down with an interception and crush any hope for a Highlander score before halftime. The score at halftime was an even 0-0.
But that was just the beginning for Price and the Warriors. On the night Price would log two interceptions and one touchdown, leading the Warriors to their third win.
“I felt like I had a good game, and I made some good plays on the ball [referring to his two interceptions] and had some good runs thanks to my lineman,” Price said.
“We played a great defensive game. Our line really stepped up in the second half and we knocked Webster out of the playoffs,” he added.
The first half was led by an aggressive offensive line and a stingy defense. The fireworks occurred in the third quarter, as Senior, #4 Devon Burgess, who is easily the team’s most aggressive player, would make the Warriors first score with a 41-yard touchdown catch and run. Then sophomore QB, #1 Logan Keatley would break three tackles and find the endzone with 7:46 left in the game. Junior star running back, #5 Haydon Moore had another great night carrying the pigskin as Coach Doug Burns identified a weakness in the Highlanders’ defense and pound- ed the ball down the field with a relentless run game. Price would finish off the Highlanders with a scrappy touchdown run with 1:24 remaining in regulation.
The Warriors, coming off a big win on November 1 against the Tygarts Valley Bulldogs, did not allow themselves to get complacent during practice. Coach Burns, easily spotted a team coming together and knew their talent was shining through.
“This team has the possibility to be something special,” he told his squad of mainly sophomores after the game.
The student athletes showed their appreciation for their coach by dumping the entire Gatorade cooler down his back.
This night, in Upperglade, was a special night for Pocahontas County. The Warriors faced a talented football team. The Warriors faced a team with playoff contentions. The Warriors faced a team that boasted a 90% projection of winning. However, after a week that witnessed many projections fall short, the Warriors delivered their county a magnificent win.
See you next year.
