Mitchell B. Koerber
Student Sports Journalist
It was truly a remarkable redemption for the Pocahontas County High School Warriors when they came up with a huge win against the Richwood Lumberjacks in Nicholas County Saturday afternoon in the “Battle of the Axe.”
The final score of the game was 47-6.
Pocahontas County scored early and never looked back.
More importantly, the Warriors would score often in its complete one-sided victory as the team dominated both sides of the ball.
Sophomore, #1 Logan Keatley once again put on a stunning performance. Keatley would find the end zone a whopping four times during the game. The Lumberjacks had no answer for him when he ran the ball up the middle. On a crucial fourth down with two yards to go, Keatley, from under center, would keep the ball and clamber for 22 yards. Then, on the next play, sophomore QB, #9 Gavin Delair would connect with Keatley over the middle, for a 34-yard touchdown strike.
“I wouldn’t have been able to make those touchdowns without the help of my teammates,” Keatley said. “Our coaches have worked with us at practice to make the plays possible. They have shown us they believe in us and given me the confidence to play my best.”
Not only did Keatley shine on Saturday, the whole team delivered a complete game.
The offense put up 310 yards and a staggering seven touchdowns, with the defense totally shutting down the Lumberjacks. In regard to the team’s overall performance, Keatley went on to say: “We all played well together. We need some improvement in some areas, but overall, we all played a great game. We had guys that really stepped-up.
“Even though Haydon wasn’t able to play, he was on the sidelines with us, giving us a positive mood for the game, and cheering us on!”
Keatley was, of course, referring to the Warriors’ star running back Haydon Moore, who was limited on play time against the Lumberjacks after his ankle injury last week. With Moore sidelined, Coach Doug Burns gave the nod to sophomore, #34 Austin Price at running back and punt return. Price would prove to be another weapon on the Warriors’ offense, making multiple key runs and returns as well as picking up an 8-yard touchdown to end the third quarter.
Senior, #4 Devon Bur-gess would also excel, as usual, adding a 1-yard touchdown of his own.
The defense had a lot to prove during the game, and they didn’t disappoint their fans.
Sophomore kicker and linebacker, #2 Griffin Taylor stunned the crowd when the Lumberjacks were on the 50-yard line.
Taylor, at linebacker, took his initial read-step, then noticed the running back sneaking out of the backfield. He immediately dropped back and positioned himself to intercept the pass and return it 50-yards for the Warriors first pick-six of the season.
“The whole team played really great together,” Taylor said. “I happened to get a chance at an interception, and I knew I had to run and ended up with my first ever pick-six.”
Taylor also added five points to the overall score by successfully kicking five extra points.
The game also highlighted some new talent.
Sophomore, #11 Camden Gregory, starting at safety for the injured Moore, also made his first interception.
“It’s a really cool thing to have that offensive chance while playing defense and do something you don’t usually get to do while on D,” Gregory said.
The 2-3 East Hardy Cougars travel to Pocahontas County this Friday, October 4, to face the Warriors at Warrior Field.
Kickoff is at 7:30 p.m.
