The Tucker County football team got in the “W” column last Friday in Mill Creek, WV, as they defeated the Tygarts Valley Bulldogs 18-6.
Tucker started on defense but got a huge play on the opening drive as Sawyer Fansler came off the edge for a strip sack that landed the ball right into Gunnar Carroll’s arms, setting the Mt. Lions up in great field position. Just a few short plays later, Cade Rapp scored from two yards out; the two-point try was unsuccessful to give Tucker the early 6-0 lead.
The rest of the first half was a back-and-forth defensive bout up until shortly before the half when sophomore QB Branson Hyre found freshman wideout Raylan Rumer on a flag route to the back corner of the end zone to extend the Mt. Lion lead 12-0 going into the half.
The Bulldogs, however, would battle back to make it a one-score game in the third quarter as they broke their longest play of the game, a 67-yard TD run, to cut the score to 12-6. The Mt. Lions would answer the call on a lengthy drive in the fourth quarter as Hyre would call his own number and score from six yards out. The touchdown would be the last score of the game for either squad as Tucker would leave Randolph County with the win 18-6.
Cade Rapp led the Mt. Lions in rushing with 77 yards on 20 attempts with 1 touchdown; Branson Hyre rushed for 62 yards on 21 carries along with going 4-16 passing for 36 yards and another score through the air. Raylan Rumer led Tucker in receiving with two catches for 18 yards and a score; Evan Hexom also notched two catches for 18 yards.
The Mt. Lions improve to 1-1 on the season and are set to return home for a Week 3 matchup with the 2-0 East Hardy Cougars Friday, Sept. 11, at 7 p.m.
