HICO, WV – No. 15 Tucker County traveled to No. 2 Midland Trail for a first round playoff game last Friday November 9th. The Mt. Lions played a great game on the road, but Tucker County could not pull off the upset as they fell by final score of 14-2.
The Mt. Lions won the field position battle in the first as the home standing Patriots punter dropped the snap to give Tucker County the ball deep in Midland Trail territory. The Mt. Lions offense could not capitalize as the offense failed to move the ball. Then Midland Trail fumbled the ball and Tucker County’s Hunter Collar recovered the football at the Patriots 6 yard line with 2:01 left in the first quarter. The Mt. Lions again could not get into the endzone as the drive went backwards and a failed fourth down play ended the Tucker County possession. The first quarter ended with the score still tied at 0-0.
The second quarter started with the Tucker County defense making a big play. The Mt. Lions Seth Cangley tackled the Midland Trail quarterback in the endzone for a safety with 11:50 left in the second quarter to put Tucker County on the scoreboard with a 2-0 lead. The Mt. Lions received the free kick in Patriots territory, but Tucker County could not move the ball and Midland Trail got the ball back. The home team then put together a drive that was capped off on a 5 yard touchdown run with 7:55 left in the second. The 2 point conversion was good to make the score 8-2 Midland Trail. Both teams could not sustain a drive the rest of the quarter and the halftime score remained 8-2 in favor of the Patriots.
Tucker County got the ball to start the third quarter and the offense went to work. The Mt. Lions drove the ball down to the Midland Trail 15 yard line, but the drive stalled out after a failed fourth down play. The offense then struggle for both teams in the third quarter as the mud and the weather conditions dominated most of the quarter to keep the score at 8-2 after three. Midland Trail then extended their lead on the first play of the fourth quarter as the Patriots quarterback rushed it in to the endzone from 5 yards out. The PAT attempt failed to give Midland Trail the 14-2 advantage with 11:54 left in the final quarter. Tucker County could not sustain a drive the rest of the contest and the Midland Trail Patriots got the win by the final score of 14-2. No. 2 Midland Trail will advance to the State Quarterfinals as they will face off against No. 7 Sherman on Friday November 16th at Greenbrier East High School.
Hunter Collar led Tucker County with 32 yards rushing on 8 carries. Liam Hood was 3 of 21 passing for 29 yards for the Mt. Lions and Ben Callaway added 6 rushes for 17 yards. Cole Rapp led Tucker County on defense with 12 tackles and 1 sack. Josh Callaway added 7 tackles for the Mt. Lions on defense. Tucker County finished the contest with 80 total yards on offense. Midland Trial was led by Morgan Ferris with 19 carries for 102 yards.
Tucker County finished the season with a 6-5 record and qualified for the playoffs for the first time since 2013. For more Tucker County Sports info visit TuckerCountySports.Com
