KINGWOOD — A disastrous third quarter turned a one-point lead into a 26-point hole as Preston finished its season with a 46-20 loss to Philip Barbour Friday night.
The Knights (2-8) led 13-12 at halftime, but the Colts (8-2) scored four touchdowns in a third quarter where Preston did not pick up a single first down.
“We knew we would get their best shot in the second half, because they know if they lose they’re falling back (in the playoff rankings) and they have to get a North Marion or a Scott or a Fairmont Senior,” Preston coach Mark Deep said. “So we knew they were going to take their best shot and I guess we weren’t ready for it.”
The playoff-bound Colts came into the game ranked No. 10 in Class AA.
The Knights started their season-finale with a bang as Sheldon Miller ran 76 yards to the endzone on the first pay from scrimmage. Preston’s defense then forced a fumble on PB’s opening drive. Philip Barbour forced a fumble of its own to keep Preston off the board.
Philip Barbour eventually tied the game 6-6 and then took a 12-6 lead on touchdowns runs by Michael Morral and Kaden Humphreys. Preston battled back and took a 13-12 lead on a four-yard touchdown run by Ethan Likens just before halftime.
The Knights looked like they would keep momentum coming out of the break as they forced a fumble on Philip Barbour’s first play of the third quarter. Preston had 12 men on the field, however, and PB kept possession and score the first of four third-quarter touchdowns.
“We have a turnover on the first play and somebody ran onto the field when they’re not supposed to,” Deep said. “It was a game of mistakes on our part.”
Nathaniel Hulver ran for two touchdowns and Humphreys threw for two as the Colts went up 39-13 at the end of the frame.
“Schematically it was the same and we shut them down in the second quarter so it shouldn’t have been an issue,” Deep said.
Humphreys ran in another in the fourth to make it 46-13.
Preston quarterback Slaton Manko threw an eight-yard touchdown to Dillon Taylor in the final minute for the 46-20 final score.
Humphreys finished with 89 passing yards, 99 rushing yards and three total touchdowns. Hulver ran for 179 yards and a pair of scores. Mollar had 62 rushing yards, 78 receiving yards and scored twice.
For Preston, Manko completed 17 of 33 passes for 173 yards and a touchdown. Miller finished with 127 on the ground and a score. Riley Land led the receivers with seven catches and 84 yards.
Box score
PB 6 6 27 7 – 46
PHS 6 7 0 7 – 20
Scoring Summary
P – Miller run 76 (kick miss)
PB – Humphreys run 4 (run failed)
PB – Morral run 30 (pass failed)
P – Likens run 7 (Turner kick)
PB – Edwards pass 1 from Humphreys (run fail)
PB – Hulver run 45 (Bodkins pass from Humphreys)
PB – Hulver run 10 (kick miss)
PB – Morral pass 47 from Humphreys (Auvil kick)
PB – Humphreys run 29 (Auvil kick)
P – Taylor pass 14 from Manko (Ayers kick)
Individual Statistics
RUSHING – Philip Barbour: 57-375-5td (Morral 6-62-td; Hulver 24-179-2td; Humphreys 18-99-2td; Bennett 1-1; Beam 3-27; Jones 5-7). Preston: 31-138-2td (Miller 16-127-td; Likens 5-14-td; Manko 6-(-20); Smith 1-5; Turner 1-1; Land 1-11; Taylor 1-0).
PASSING – Philip Barbour: 5-9 89-td-2int (all Humphreys). Preston: 17-33 173-td (all Manko).
RECEIVING – Philip Barbour: 5-89-2td (Hulver 1-7; Bennett 1-3; Edwards 1-1-td; Morral 2-78-td). Preston 17-173-td (Land 7-84; Miller 4-25; Taylor 4-42-td; Smith 2-22).
