MORGANTOWN — The precocious Trinity football team has been on a serious roll, piling up lopsided wins against Hundred and Hancock (Md.) but Friday night’s home tilt against Tygarts Valley was another test entirely. The Bulldogs have suffered some narrow losses against quality teams this year, so the Warriors knew they would certainly be facing a stiffer challenge.
Well, at least the coaching staff knew — but young football teams are often susceptible to believing the high school football hype machine that always seems to run so loud and fast. However, despite some sloppy and undisciplined moments, the Warriors — all 17 of them who dressed — found a way to respond to every push from the strong, tough Bulldogs, score a late touchdown, and hold on to win in exciting fashion 21-14.
After a scoreless first quarter, Tygarts Valley (3-5) turned a third-and-long prayer pass early in the second quarter into a stunning 79-yard touchdown. The normally impeccable TCS defensive backfield seemed to have TV wide out Garrett Gibson bracketed down the left sideline, but Lucas Bright’s rainbow pass somehow went from a potential interception to an unlikely reception by Gibson, who then outraced the safety all the way to paydirt. But the Warriors (6-1) punched back immediately when quarterback Jaylon Hill hit slot receiver Carmelo Kniska in stride on a short crossing pattern, and the sophomore did the rest, zooming down the sideline for an 82-yard tying score.
The Bulldogs rushed the ball effectively on their next possession, but the TCS defense stiffened, forcing a punt that pinned the Warriors back on their own 11. However, that’s when — just when they needed it — Trinity produced their most impressive drive of the night. Nine plays produced five first downs as well as Levi Teets’ 5-yard touchdown run.
With the second-half clock running down, the Bulldogs penetrated all the way to the Trinity 16-yard line with 13 seconds left, but a critical intentional grounding penalty allowed the Warriors defense to remain unscathed until halftime.
Neither team could dent the scoreboard in the third quarter, as untimely penalties and stout defensive line play forced multiple punts from both offenses. Finally, midway through the final frame, a short punt plus a costly roughing penalty provided TV with by far their best field position of the game. Starting on Trinity’s 38, it took Nathaniel Hulver just three carries to punch the ball into the end zone for the tying score. But once again, the resilient Warriors punched back immediately.
A short kickoff was fielded by upback Hill, and the special teamer-slash-signal caller turned in a nifty return down the right sideline to give his offense the ball on Valley’s 38. With seven minutes left, Trinity wanted nothing more than to grind some clock and at least get into field goal position for their all-state kicker, Kyle Knight. They did both, and more, as they burned four minutes while converting three crucial third downs, the last one a 2-yard TD buck from Teets.
Up by 7 with three minutes left, the Trinity defense dug in to try to preserve the victory, and although the Bulldogs drove to midfield with a minute left, a huge sack on third down by Brady Summers forced a fourth-and-8, last-gasp effort. Surprisingly, the TV staff called a run, Hulver was stopped three yards short of the stick, and the Warriors had pulled out win No. 6.
After the game, Kniska —who stood out on defense all game as well as posting a gaudy receiving stat line of 6-163 and one very important touchdown — was especially excited about his offense’s final drive.
“It was huge for us, and very exciting,” he said. “This is our third year, and we’ve always relied on our defense to keep us in games, but this time, it felt really great to go down and score and win the game. We kept fighting and did our jobs and executed. It shows that we’re becoming a solid team on both sides of the ball.”
According to Trinity coach Chris Simpson, his team has matured by a quantum leap this year, most noticeably on offense.
“Maybe it was good for them to go out and get smacked around a little by a strong, well-coached team like Tygarts Valley,” he said. “A less mature team would not have been able to overcome as slow a start as we had tonight, and I thought Jaylen played his best, most mature game of his career.
“With just 17 helmets, we know we have to play smart, and with heart,” he continued. “We have very special kids, very special athletes, and we ask them to play very high IQ football. It allows us to put them in position to be successful — but our success is all about them playing hard and playing for each other, doing it on the field. It’s a great group, and we’re ready to try to go 1-0 next week.”
The Warriors are set to travel to Cameron for a rare rematch this Friday.
Tygarts Valley (3-5) 0 7 0 7 – 14
Trinity (6-1) 0 14 0 7 – 21
2nd Q – TV – Garrett Gibson 79 pass from Lucas Bright (Gibson kick)
TC – Carmelo Kniska 82 pass from Jaylon Hill (Kyle Knight kick)
TC – Levi Teets 4 run (Knight kick)
4th Q – TV – Nathaniel Hulver 5 run (Gibson kick)
TC – Teets 2 run (Knight kick)
PASSING
TV – Bright 7-8-0 129 TD
TC – Hill 13-18-1 200 TD
RUSHING
TV – Gibson 7-11, Hulver 22-126 TD, Walker George 5-18, Riley Tackett 1-0, Bright 7-(-13) Total 42-142 TD.
TC- Hill 2-(-18), Levi Teets 16-46 2TD, Anthony Finn 6-12, Kniska 2-7 Total 26-47 2TD.
RECEIVING
TV – Gibson 4-101 TD, Tackett 2-18, Hulver 1-10
TC – Brady Summers 1-13, Teets 1-5, Knight 5-19, Kniska 6-163 TD
