By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
FAIRMONT – The Mt. Lions traveled to Fairmont State University last Friday November 4th for their last game of the season against Notre Dame. Tucker County exploded for a 14-0 lead and never looked back as they score 67 total points to get the road win 67-34.
Notre Dame received the opening kick and put together a drive. A bad snap, however, stalled the drive and forced the Irish to punt. Tucker County got the ball at the Notre Dame 45 yard line after the punt and went right to work. The Mt. Lion put together a 9 play drive and scored on a 19 yard touchdown pass from Luke Poling to Jameson Hardy. Ben Callaway made the PAT kick to give Tucker County the early 7-0 lead. Notre Dame then tried to answer as they moved the ball to the Mt. Lions 8 yard line, but a fumble was recovered by Tucker County’s Jonathan Paugh to stop the drive. The Mt. Lions then marched the ball 83 yards and capped off the drive with a 18 yard touchdown run by Luke Poling to make the score 14-0 after a successful PAT kick. Notre Dame took the ball down the field on their next possession to get on the score board with an 18 yard touchdown run. The PAT kick was good to cut the Mt. Lions lead to 14-7 after one quarter of play.
Tucker County would answer right back in the second quarter as they put together a 6 play drive that covered 70 yards. Brett Reall took the handoff and raced 32 yards for a Mt. Lions touchdown and the PAT kick was good to push the Tucker County lead to 21-7. Notre Dame would then fumble the ball back to Tucker County on their next drive to give the Mt. Lions the ball at the Irish 43. Tucker County would then capitalize on the Notre Dame turnover as the Mt. Lions scored 7 plays later on a Cole Rapp 2 yard touchdown run and the successful PAT kick made the score 28-7 Tucker County. Notre Dame would strike back with a 13 yard touchdown pass to cut the Mt. Lions lead to 28-14. Tucker County then answers right back with a 13 yard touchdown run by Poling and the PAT kick fails to put the score to 34-14. The Irish then turn the ball over again on a fumble recovered by Tucker County at the Notre Dame 39. Then 5 plays later the Mt. Lions push the lead to 41-14 after a Rapp 2 yard touchdown run. The Irish could not score before the half to make the halftime score 41-14 Tucker County.
Notre Dame attempts an onside kick to open up the third quarter, but Tucker County recovered at the 50 yard line. On the first offensive play for Tucker County Cole Rapp throws an interception on a halfback pass play. Notre Dame returned the interception back for a touchdown to cut the Mt. Lions lead to 41-20. Tucker County was forced to punt on their next possession and Notre Dame took over at their own 36. The Irish then drove the field and scored on a 3 yard touchdown pass and the 2 point conversion was good to make the score 41-28. After another Tucker County punt the Irish had momentum, but the Mt. Lions defense stepped up to force a Notre Dame punt. Tucker County would lead after three 41-28.
Tucker County put together a long 12 play drive that covered 76 yards and was capped off by a 1 yard touchdown run by Reall. The PAT kick was good to give Tucker County a 48-28 lead. The Irish then could not convert on a fourth down play at their own 23 and the Mt. Lions took over at the Notre Dame 23. Rapp would then score on a 12 yard touchdown run 3 plays later and the PAT kick was good to push the Tucker County lead to 55-28. Notre Dame then would strike back with a 72 yard touchdown run to make the score 55-34. The Mt. Lions would add two more scores; a 29 yard touchdown reception by Jameson Hardy and a 67 yard touchdown run by Josh Freeman to make the final score 67-34 Tucker County.
Brett Reall led the Mt. Lions on the ground with 21 carries for 133 yards rushing. Luke Poling finished with 8 of 12 passing for 125 yards and Poling also had 17 carries for 125 yards rushing. Jameson Hardy finished with 5 receptions for 70 yards and Cole Rapp added 46 yards rushing and 39 yards receiving. Josh Freeman chipped in with 67 yards rushing for Tucker County in the fourth quarter.
Tucker County finished the season with a record of 3-7. For more Tucker County Sports info visit TuckerCountySports.Com
