By: Adam Freeman
The Tucker County Mt. Lions played host last week in the first round of the Single-A state football playoffs to the Panthers of Tug Valley. Tug took the field on offense first and mounted an 80-yard drive capped off with a 4-yard touchdown pass and a failed extra point to take an early 6-0 lead.
Tucker’s offense was not to be outdone, scoring on its first possession as well. QB Sam Marks found Cayden Arnold on a 43-yard catch and run. Keelyn Eichelberger added the two-point try, and Tucker took the lead at 8-6. Tucker’s defense forced a stop, and two plays later, Reid Kisamore scooted 54 yards for a touchdown on the ground. The two-point try failed, and Tucker was up 14-6 at the end of the first quarter.
Kisamore would score again to start the second quarter, this time on a post-flag route from 4 yards out. The two-point try failed again, but Tucker’s lead was extended to 20-6. The Panthers answered with a 41-yard touchdown through the air. The two-point try was stopped, and the lead was cut to eight at 20-12.
On the next possession, Marks connected with Kisamore again for a 45-yard catch and run to push the lead back to two possessions at 26-12. With just a few minutes to go in the half, Arnold wrestled away an interception from the Panther receiver to set up Tucker in plus territory just before the break. The Mt. Lions marched down inside the 5 but failed to convert the touchdown, and the score remained 26-12 at the half.
Tucker came out hot in the second half as Marks found Arnold for his second score on a 24-yard pass. Eichelberger added the two-point conversion, and Tucker pushed its lead to 34-12. Tug refused to go away easily, scoring on a 1-yard QB dive to end the third quarter and again on a 20-yard pass with 5:30 to go in the fourth, making it a one-possession game at 34-28.
Tug attempted an onside kick, but it was recovered by Josh Crossland. Tucker then went to work draining the clock, starting at its own 45-yard line. The Mt. Lions drained the clock down to just 14 seconds before Marks put the game on ice by finding Luke Barb in the back of the end zone for an 18-yard score. Arnold completed the scoring with the two-point try from Marks to settle the final at 42-28.
Marks had himself a high-level game, going 19-for-32 for 372 yards and five touchdowns. Arnold led the receiving corps with six catches for 157 yards and two touchdowns. Kisamore notched six carries for 51 yards and a touchdown, along with four catches for 87 yards and two more scores. Tucker’s defense was again led by freshman Branson Hyre, who collected nine tackles; Luke Barb added seven; and Eichelberger chipped in five tackles and a sack.
Tucker totaled 438 yards, while Tug compiled 460 in what was a high-flying affair. Tucker improves to 7-4 on the season and now faces the No. 1 team in Single-A, Wheeling Central Catholic, in its first season back in the small-school division as a private school. The matchup is set for Friday, November 21, at 7 p.m. at Wheeling University’s Bishop Schmitt Field.
