By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
DUNMORE,WV – Senior running back Zach Armstrong rushed for 145 yards and returned an interception 35 yards for a touchdown to seal the victory for the Mt. Lions over Pocahontas County 21-7 Friday night.
The game started with Pocahontas County winning the coin toss and deferring their option to the second half. The Mt. Lions offense would get the ball first and they wasted no time. Tucker County put together an 8 play 59 yard drive that was capped by a 2 yard touchdown run from first year quarterback junior Seth Underwood. Michael Callaway picked up where he left off last year as he made the extra point kick to give the Mt. Lions the early 7-0 lead with 8:51 left in the first quarter.
The Warriors got the ball next and seemed to be stopped on a 3rd down and long, but a 15 yard penalty was issued against Tucker County which resulted in a first down for Pocahontas County. On the very next play Judd Walther took the handoff and raced 45 yards for a touchdown. The extra point kick was good to tie the score at 7 with 6:49 left in the first.
Defense dominated play for both teams in the second quarter as Tucker County gave the ball back to the Warriors on 2 different interceptions by Underwood. Pocahontas was not able to capitalize as they punted the ball back to the Mt. Lions 3 times in the quarter and turned the ball over on downs as the score remained 7-7 at the half.
The third quarter showcased more defense as both teams exchanged punts the entire third quarter. Early in the fourth quarter Tucker County got on the scoreboard again. Underwood scored his second touchdown of the game on a 4th down and inches, set up by a 54 yard run by Armstrong 3 plays before. The extra point kick was blocked to leave the score at 13-7 Mt. Lions with 9:49 left in the game.
On the Warriors next possession Tucker County cornerback Armstrong stepped in front of the pass and raced 35 yards for a pick 6 touchdown. The Mt. Lions went for the 2 point conversion and Underwood scrambled to the right and through a strike in the back of the end zone to Dusty Conrad to convert the 2 points and make the score 21-7 with 8:52 left in the game. Tucker County then forced the Warriors to punt but a fumble on the punt return gave Pocahontas County the ball back at the Mt. Lions 35 yard line. The Warriors then drove the ball all the way down to the Tucker County 4 yard line, but on 2nd down and goal Pocahontas County quarterback Wesley Fulton fumble the ball and the Mt. Lions recovered to stop the drive.
Tucker County was unable to sustain the drive and had to punt the ball back to the Warriors. Daniel Kisamore got off a great punt and Pocahontas had to start their next drive from their own 25 yard line. Dusty Conrad intercepted the Warriors pass two plays later and Tucker County came away with a 21-7 victory on the road. Coach AJ Rapp said this about his team’s victory, “I am pretty happy, we played well, I wasn’t real happy with our offense, our special teams played really well, Daniel Kisamore stepped up and punted well.”
Zach Armstrong finished the game with 21 carries and 145 yards rushing, Coach Rapp had this to say about his senior running back, “Zach is our been there, done that kind of guy, he is a tough kid, he did a good job tonight and broke several runs for us.” Seth Underwood finished the night with 50 yards rushing on 18 carries.
Tucker County(1-0) will host Tygarts Valley on Friday, kickoff is set for 7:30pm. Radio Coverage will be provided by 94.7FM WELK pregame starts at 7pm. For more Tucker County Sports info visit TuckerCountySports.Com
