The Mt. Lion football team from TCHS took on one of the top teams in Single-A at home last week in the Cougars from East Hardy High School.
Tucker battled throughout and made East Hardy work for the win from start to finish. The Cougars would start the game off with a bang, taking the opening kickoff 60 yards for the score, with a failed XP. East Hardy was up 6-0.
Tucker would show their intestinal fortitude, answering on a long drive capped off with a 28-yard run up the middle of the field by Cade Rapp. With a two-point conversion, Tucker took the lead 8-6.
East Hardy would plunge in one more score in the first period from two yards out to take back the lead 14-8. The Cougars would strike first again in the second quarter, scoring on a nine-yard touchdown run to extend the lead 22-8.
The Mt. Lions would not go away quietly, as a one-handed grab from junior Evan Hexom down the sideline for a big gain would set up a one-yard dive into the end zone by QB Branson Hyre. The score would cut the Cougar lead to one score at 22-14.
East Hardy would then collect a crucial touchdown in the game just before the halftime break on a 37-yard catch and run to push their lead to 29-14 at halftime.
The Mt. Lions would mount several promising drives in the second half but would fail to find the end zone, while their opponents would score two more, making the final score 43-14, East Hardy.
Sophomore quarterback Branson Hyre went 12-of-22 for 152 yards and one interception, along with 13 carries for 73 yards and a touchdown. Cade Rapp led the team in rushing on the night with 17 carries for 89 yards and a score. Evan Hexom led the Mt. Lions in receiving with two receptions for 76 yards, alongside Evan Witt with four receptions for 50 yards.
Tucker falls to 1-2 on the season, with a road trip to Blacksville, W.Va., next week to take on the 1-1 Cee Bees of Clay-Battelle at 7 p.m.
