Aaron Pugh
Contributing Writer
Warriors 12
Mountain Lions 34
The Pocahontas County High School Warriors, featuring 15 seniors and a run-ready offense, failed to overcome a rebuilt Tucker County team with high-flying wider receivers Friday night.
The game opened inauspiciously with the first of many turnovers for both teams on the night. The Warriors losing the ball on play one, and the Mountain Lions scoring shortly after on a pass. All the Tucker County scores came in the air, as they were effectively shut down on the ground by the Warrior defense.
However, the Warriors struggled in the air themselves and had their first score come on a blocked punt late in the first quarter. Senior Defensive Linemen #68 Josten Moyers and #77 Austin Morgan blocked the punt and senior Defensive End #76 Logan Wimer recovered the ball in the end-zone for 6.
Early in the third quarter the Warriors put a long drive together, heavily relying on the running talents of Seniors #11 Evan Hamrick and #6 Braedan Hayhurst. The final punch came from Right Tackle Austin Morgan (now in the backfield at Running Back), who capped the long drive for 6.
The night would continue in this fashion, but the Warriors’ run game was not enough to combat the high-flying receivers of Tucker County.
The final score was a 12-34 loss for the Warriors, with the strange outcome of both scores coming from the left and right offensive tackles.
Leaders for the Warriors on the night were Wimer and Morgan with two touchdowns; and Evan Hamrick returning to his workhorse role with 17 carries for 96 yards and 28 more receiving.
The passing game and pass defense needs some improvement, but the team improved in the second half and hope to build on that as they travel to Moorefield to take on the Yellow Jackets Saturday, September 3, for a 1:30 p.m. kickoff.