PARKERSBURG –Parkersburg South must fill the role of road warriors in order to secure a minimum of one home game for the postseason.
The Patriot resume, which included a No. 5 ranking in Class AAAA entering this week, took somewhat of a hit Friday night after losing to Morgantown, 28-14, on senior night at Erickson All-Sports Facility.
The final three games for the regular season takes the Patriots to Linsly, Spring Mills and Princeton.
“Tonight we talked about what was at stake and potentially hosting a playoff game,” South coach Nate Tanner said. “We just weren’t able to get it done tonight.”
On the flip side, Morgantown showed a side unseen for several weeks as the hoopla commenced immediately after the exchange of handshakes with a South team which had only one offensive series in the fourth quarter.
That particular drive took the Patriots to the Morgantown 25, but stalled when quarterback Collin Hayes vacated the pocket on fourth-and-10 and was stopped 4 yards shy of the first down marker.
Morgantown protected its two touchdown lead by steadily moving the ball downfield and working the remaining eight minutes off the clock. The Mohigans (5-3), who snapped a two-game losing streak, was able to take three knees to end the game.
“The two-game skid wasn’t fun, that’s for sure,” Morgantown coach Sean Biser said. “We’re happy to get the win. We beat a good football team tonight.
“This game is supposed to be fun. You are supposed to be excited, and that’s what they showed tonight. They are walking off the field with a lot better feeling than they had the last two weeks.”
Behind Eli Bartley’s 4-yard TD run midway in the second quarter for South followed by Morgantown’s AJ Thomas carrying the ball in from 5 yards out, the two teams entered halftime even at 7-7.
Minus the last series of the game, Morgantown stuck to the ground game and enjoyed success by scoring on all three possessions. After interchanging quarterbacks Maddox Twigg and Alex Himes throughout the first half, the Mohigans elected to stick with Twigg – the more athletic of the duo – exclusively in the second half.
Twigg’s 66-yard breakaway set up Thomas’ 22-yard TD run. The two-play drive followed South’s opening possession of the second half – which resulted in a punt.
“Alex is a great quarterback – he earned a chance to play and start,” Biser said. “He gives us some different things. He is really calm and understands all the intricacies of our offense. He has a really nice touch when he throws the ball.
“Maddox is a little bit explosive. You have to give him his touches too. Tonight, Maddox had the hot hand so we kept him in there.
South had an immediate answer after falling behind 14-7. Bartley carried six times to keep Morgantown’s defense honest. The capper: Hayes taking a two-step drop and winging a deep pass to Taj Joyce into the end zone for a 29-yard TD reception. Joyce ended the night with seven receptions for 76 yards.
With 6:06 still remaining in the third period, the score was once again deadlocked at 14-14.
Morgantown used another quick strike to pull in front to stay when Twigg capped a five-play, 51-yard drive with a 22-yard TD run. Twigg deked a handful of South defenders to reach the end zone standing up.
Twigg finished with 142 yards on just 10 carries. His backfield mate and senior captain, Thomas, rushed for 176 yards on 30 carries.
“That freshman (Twigg) came in and made some athletic plays,” Tanner said. “The touchdown he scored on the sprint out pass, we had players in position to make that play. He made some nice moves and made his way into the end zone.”
The lone turnover of the game came back to haunt South. After Morgantown increased its lead to 21-14, South kickoff returner Brandon Kelly covered nearly the entire length of the field before turning the ball over via the fumble at the Mohigan 20.
Multiple flags against South littered the return. Morgantown declined and retained possession. The combination of Twigg and Thomas on the ground resulted in a Thomas 1-yard TD run at the 11:03 mark of the fourth quarter and a two TD cushion.
South’s last opportunity began at its own 10. The bubble screen to a variety of receivers pushed the ball upfield. Hayes completed five passes along the way as part of his 177 yards passing on the night on 17-of-24 passing.
South nearly overcame a chop block penalty which left the ball sitting first-and-25 from the Morgantown 40. A couple of quick screens set up the final gasp as Hayes tried making a play to keep the chains moving.
“I thought our defense played really well,” Biser said. “South has some playmakers. They put points on people. Our defense has played well all year, and we put them in a bind there in the first half.”
— Story by Kerry Patrick
