PARSONS – The Tucker County Football team hosted Notre Dame for the last game of the season last Friday November 3rd. The Mt. Lions drove the ball to the Irish 27 late in the contest, but Tucker County failed to convert to give Notre Dame the tight victory 14-12.
Notre Dame won the coin toss and received the opening kickoff. The Irish moved the ball and picked up one first down. Notre Dame then got behind the sticks after a holding penalty and they were forced to punt the ball. Tucker County put together a nice drive on their first possession as they took the ball down to the Notre Dame 16. The drive stalled, however, as the Mt. Lions failed to convert on a 4th and 6 to give the ball back to Notre Dame. Neither team got on the scoreboard in the first quarter and score remained 0-0 after one quarter.
The second quarter started with Notre Dame in possession of the ball, but the Irish failed to finish their drive as a 4th and goal from the 8 yard line was an incomplete pass. Tucker County then took over on offense. Luke Poling then connected with Jordan Moss on a 27 yard pass play to set up the Mt. Lions with a first down on their own 37. Then 2 plays later the Poling pass was intercepted by Notre Dame and returned for a touchdown to put the Irish ahead. The PAT kick was good to make the score 7-0 with 7:17 left in the second quarter. The next Tucker County possession was productive as they moved the ball to the Irish 37, but again the drive stalled on a failed fourth down play to give Notre Dame the ball back. The Mt. Lions defense held the Irish to a 3 and out forcing a punt to give Tucker County the ball back at their own 27 yard line. The Mt. Lions offense then went to work again as time was running down in the first half. Tucker County then would get on the scoreboard with a 50 yard pass play from Poling to Ben Callaway with 8 seconds left in the second quarter. The PAT kick was no good after a bad snap to make the halftime score 7-6 Notre Dame.
Tucker County received the kick to start the third quarter, but their offense could not pick up a first down forcing a punt back to Notre Dame. The Irish also had to punt on their first possession of the third quarter. The Mt. Lions started the drive at the Notre Dane 48 and the offense went to work. The Tucker County drive was highlighted by a Ben Cromer 22 yard reception and then the drive was capped off by a Cole Rapp 5 yard touchdown run. The 2 point conversion failed to tie the game to make the score 12-7 Tucker County with 4:30 left in the third quarter. The visiting Irish then punted on their next offensive series. The Mt. Lions also struggled on offense and were forced to punt the ball back to Notre Dame late in the third. Then a bad snap on the punt forced the punter to try to run for the first down, but he was tackled short of the first down and Notre Dame took over the ball at the Mt. Lions 18 yard line at the end of three quarters.
In the fourth quarter Notre Dame started with the ball and Tucker County jumped offside on a third down play to give the Irish the first down and goal inside the 10. The Mt. Lions defense held Notre Dame on the first 3 down to force a 4th and goal from the 8 yard line. Notre Dame then scored on an 8 yard run that was a close call at the goal line. The ball carrier appeared to be down and out of bounds before crossing the goal line, but the official signaled touchdown to give the visiting team the score with 9:11 left in the game. The PAT kick was good to make the score 14-12 Notre Dame. Tucker County could not move the ball on their next possession and was forced to punt the ball back to Notre Dame. The Tucker County defense held the Irish again to give the ball back to the Mt. Lions offense. Notre Dame then made a great defensive play as they intercepted another Luke Poling pass to give them the ball at the Tucker County 9 yard line. Notre Dame, however, could not get the score as a block in the back penalty and a sack by Tucker County gave the ball back to the Mt. Lions with around 2 minutes left in the game. Tucker County then put together a drive that took the ball down to the Notre Dame 27 yard line, but the Mt. Lions could not convert on a fourth down play to give the ball back to Notre Dame. The Irish then ran out the clock to take the victory by the final score of 14-12.
Luke Poling led the Mt. Lions on 12 of 28 passing for 157 yards and 21 carries for 114 yards rushing. Brett Reall added 12 rushes for 42 yards and Cole Rapp had 8 carries for 25 yards on the ground. Ben Callaway led the team in receiving with 6 receptions for 89 yards, Jordan Moss added 4 catches for 59 yards for Tucker County and Ben Cromer finished with 2 catches for 24 yards. Notre Dame was led by Ryan LaAsmar with 60 yards passing and 39 yards rushing. Tucker County outgained the visiting Irish in total yards 338 to 181.
Tucker County finished the season with a record of 3-7. Before the game the Senior Fall athletes were honored with their parents. Those recognized were the following: Football: Jordan Moss, Brett Reall, Luke Poling, Jacob Davis and Cecily Strawderman. Golf: Carleigh Bolyard and Connor Nestor. Cross Country: Natalie Evans, Mikala Betler, David Kines, Nathaniel Rader and Jack Melnick. For more Tucker County Sports info visit TuckerCountySports.Com
