PARKERSBURG — There were nine lead changes, but the last one — a 20-yard field goal by Miciah Jones — gave Parkersburg South a thrilling 44-41 overtime victory over Morgantown High on Friday night at the Erickson All-Sports Facility.
The journey to get to the final was another story.
It was Parkersburg South’s first game since suffering a home loss to Bridgeport two weeks ago, but the offense was anything but rusty. However, the visiting Mohigans packed a punch, as well.
South (6-1) took a two-score lead off a 4-yard Robert Shockey touchdown run with 7:54 left in regulation, as the 41-27 advantage was the Patriots’ biggest of the night.
MHS (4-3) refused to back down.
On the ensuing kickoff, Morgantown’s Bobby Powell housed the kick to the tune of 80 yards to make it a 7-point game.
South’s next drive ended with a fake punt that didn’t work and the Mohigans answered when running back Broderick Washington capped off a drive with a plunge from a yard away to tie the game with 4:15 remaining.
That led to the overtime period, where Parkersburg South Gage Wright blocked the Mohigans’ 42-yard field-goal attempt.
Wright followed that up with a 10-yard run on the Patriots’ overtime possession, which set up Jones’ game-winning kick.
South was led by Shockey, who finished 12 of 19 passing for 176 yards and a touchdown pass to Cyrus Traugh, who had six catches for 81 yards.
Wright was all over the field for Parkersburg South, finishing with 133 rushing yards and three scores on 14 carries, to go along with a quarterback sack and the blocked kick on defense.
Since Class AAA No. 1 Musselman fell 34-7 to Wheeling Park on Friday, an impending shakeup in the state ratings is on the horizon.
With the victory, No. 2 Parkersburg South could see itself climb back up toward the top spot.
Meanwhile, Morgantown High will host John Marshall.
BY JOSH HUGHES
Box score
Morgantown 7 13 7 14 0—41
P. South 6 21 7 7 3—44
SCORING SUMMARY
M— Broderick Washington 9 run (Aiden Stire kick)
PS— Cyrus Traugh 15 run (kick failed)
PS— Gage Wright 55 run (Miciah Jones kick)
M— AJ Thomas 20 run (kick failed)
PS— Traugh 43 catch from Robert Shockey (kick failed)
M— Washington 9 run (Stire kick)
PS— Turner Garretson 70 kickoff return (Shockey run good)
M— Washington 41 catch from Maddox Bowers (Stire kick)
PS— Wright 46 run (Jones kick)
PS— Shockey 4 run (Jones kick)
M—Bobby Powell 80 kickoff return (Stire kick)
M— Washington 1 run (Stire kick)
PS— Jones 20 field goal
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING: MHS—Mallett 2-7, Powell 4-20, Nutter 14-42, Ollum 8-26, Thomas 6-17, Washington 7-33. P. South— Shockey 17-10, Traugh 2-30, Wright 14-133, Bartley 2-19.
PASSING: MHS— Bowers 13-17 178. P. South— Shockey 12-19 176.
RECEIVING: MHS— Powell 5-63, Washington 1-8, Keir 4-38. P. South— Traugh 6-81, Reems 2-18, Walker 4-31, Garretson 2-34, Wright 1-12.
