By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
MORGANTOWN – The Tucker County Football team traveled to Trinity Christian for a regular season matchup on Thursday November 12th. The Mt. Lions got down early 20-0. Tucker County fought back to within 20-18, but the Mt. Lions could not complete the comeback as they fell in the game 26-18.
Trinity won the coin toss and elected to receive the kick to start the game. The Warriors marched the ball down the field and scored on a 3 yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was good to put the score to 7-0 Trinity with 8:57 left in the first quarter. Tucker County’s first offensive drive took the ball to midfield before an interception by the Warriors defense ended the drive. Trinity then was forced to punt after their offense could not move the ball. On the punt return, Tucker County mishandled the punt and the Warriors recovered the ball at the Mt. Lions 10. Trinity then capitalized with a 6 yard touchdown run with 18 seconds left in the first quarter. The PAT kick was missed by the Warriors to make the score 13-0 Trinity after one quarter.
Tucker County was forced to punt on their next possession. This would give Trinity the ball at their own 45 yard line. The Warriors offense then went to work again as they put together a 11 play drive that was capped off on a 1 yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was good by Trinity to give the home team the lead 20-0 with 7:00 left in the second quarter. The Mt. Lions offense then responded with a log drive. Tucker County put together a 12 play 68 yard drive that ended with a 2 yard touchdown run from JJ Knotts on a 4th and goal. The 2 point conversion failed to make the score 20-6 Trinity with 1:50 left in the first half. The score remained the same at the end of the second to keep the score at 20-6 Warriors at the half.
The Mt. Lions received the third quarter kick, but Tucker County turned the ball over to Trinity on a fumble after 2 plays. The defense for both teams played well in the third quarter as neither team scored in the third. The Mt. Lions, however, got an interception by JJ Knotts with 2:19 left in the third. Tucker County then began to march the offense down the field, but the third quarter ended with the score the same 20-6 Trinity.
Tucker County started the fourth quarter with the ball inside the Warriors 10 yard line. Three plays later the Mt. Lions got into the endzone again on a 1 yard touchdown run by Jeremy Liller with 10:49 left in the game. The 2 point conversion was no good to put the score to 20-12 Trinity. On the next Warriors possession Tucker County forced a fumble and the Mt. Lions recovered the ball at the Trinity 43. The visiting Mt. Lion then wasted no time as the offense went to work. Tucker County got on the scoreboard again with 5:30 left in the game on a JJ Knotts 1 yard touchdown run. The 2 point conversion failed to tie the game as the pass fell incomplete to keep the score at 20-18 Trinity. The Mt. Lions then recovered the onside kick at the Warriors 49. The Tucker County offense could not sustain the drive and they were forced to punt the ball back to Trinity with 3:51 left in the game. The homestanding Warriors then scored on a 57 yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was no good to make the score 26-18 Trinity with 3:40 left in the contest. Tucker County was unable to get their offense going the rest of the game as the Mt. Lions fell by the score of 26-18 Trinity.
Ethan Rosenau led Tucker County with 14 of 28 passing for 180 yards. Jeremy Liller added 8 receptions for 135 yards and 14 carries for 44 yards rushing in the loss for the Mt. Lions. Tucker County’s JJ Knotts also had 9 rushes for 28 yards and 2 receptions for 25 yards. Trinity outgained the Mt. Lions in total yards 341-228. Tucker County finished the season with a record of 1-7. For more info go to TuckerCountySports.Com.