Aaron Pugh
Contributing Writer
Being shut out is a horrible feeling, but shutting out the #10 team in the state for more than three quarters in the process takes a little of the sting out of it. That was the story for the Pocahontas County High School Warriors when they visited the 6 – 2 Tygart Valley Bulldogs Friday night.
It was largely a defensive battle, with poor field conditions, cold weather and injuries dominating the night. The two teams duked it out in a series of drives and counter drives on the slick surface at Bulldog stadium.
Both teams were largely at a standstill when disaster struck. Junior center and defensive tackle #74 Jarrett “Luke” Lucabaugh went down with a knee injury and had to be taken off the field in an ambulance. A blow that would rattle the Warriors and leave them without a staunch and resilient young man.
Near the 10 minute mark in the fourth quarter, the Bulldogs took advantage of the Warriors and Lucabaugh’s absence. Pinned on their own five yard line, #7 Caden Boggs managed to break through for a 95-yard touchdown; point after by #22 Liam Depp was good.
Score 7-0 Bulldogs
The Warriors continued to set up decent drives, but the inability to get a passing game going, and a few mishaps, found the Warriors in quicksand. Pocahontas County succumbed to a series of errors – a bad snap, a fumble for a loss on a kickoff return and two interceptions in the final quarter.
Tygart Valley would take advantage of the confusion, first with a 44-yard run by #30 Daniel White and then a pass by #2 Joshua White to #81 Aiden Row from 16 yards out, and a pair of extra points by Depp to round out the fourth quarter.
Final Score 21-0 Bulldogs
The night was a heartbreaker for the Warriors. They had a fair showing outside of the injuries and errors in the fourth quarter, with a total offense of 230 yards, while the Bulldogs had 215 (95 of those on one play). The rushing game was 196 yards by the Warriors and 199 by the Bulldogs. Leading for Pocahontas on the ground were: Senior #6 Dillon Shinaberry with 20 carries for 113 yards; Junior #9 Haiden Gladwell with 10 carries for 64 yards; Junior #10 Keaton Baldwin was 14 carries for 38 yards; and Senior #83 Brody Buzzard with 1 for -1.
The air game for both teams was limited by the field conditions. The Warriors were 4-14 for 34 yards, and two interceptions, trying hard to salvage the game through the air. While the Bulldogs were 1 for 3 for a 16-yard touchdown.
Shinaberry completed the four passes for the Warriors. Receiving were: Sophomore #5 Cage Burdette with 1 for 27; Brody Buzzard with 1 for 7; Junior #32 Jacob Barkley with 1 for 3; and Baldwin with 1 for -3.
The Warriors will finish their season by traveling to face #6 Midland Trail in Hico November 8.
Kickoff at 7 p.m.
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