By: Adam Freeman
This past Friday, Tucker County traveled to Franklin to take on the Wildcats of Pendleton County. Neither team would find the end zone in the first quarter in what was a back-and-forth contest. Tucker would strike first on a 5-yard rushing touchdown by Jared Reall, the two-point attempt failed, and the Mt. Lions led 6-0. Tucker was able to find the end zone again set up by a 53-yard pass from Sam Marks to Reid Kisamore and a 3-yard rumble into the end zone by Reall. Again, the conversion was unsuccessful pushing the score out to 12 – 0. Pendleton, however, would answer with a 17-yard touchdown pass and they failed the extra point to put the score at 12 – 6. Tucker would counterpunch before the half and drove in the third of Reall’s first half touchdowns, this time from 14 yards out. The two-point conversion struggles continued with the third failed attempt of the half. However, Tucker would possess the lead 18-6 going into the break. Pendleton County would come out of the gate hot to start the second half and connect on a 10-yard touchdown pass, adding the PAT on a successful kick putting the score 18-13. The Mt. Lions would answer with a 51-yard kick return by Luke Barb which would set up a 9-yard touchdown pass from Marks to Garrett Wilfong. With another failed two-point try, Tucker leads 24-13 going into the fourth. On the following possession linebacker, Jared Reall, would deliver a massive hit, as the QB released the ball, allowing fellow linebacker, Marky Phillips, to intercept the pass and take it into the end zone. A blind side block penalty would negate the TD, but the interception would stand. Just a few plays later, on a beautifully executed 22-yard screen pass from Marks to Cade “Mini Cooler” Rapp, the Mt. Lions would again find pay dirt, and for the fourth time in a row the two- point attempt was unsuccessful. The Mt. Lions would find the goal line once again before the end of the game on a 9-yard rushing TD by Marks. That would prove to be the final score on the contest at 38-13. Tucker was led on the ground by Reall who finished with 220 yards rushing and 3 touchdowns. Quarterback, Sam Marks, would finish 8 of 10 passing for 119 yards with 51 yards rushing and a touchdown on the ground. Tucker was led on defense by linebacker, Garrett Wilfong, who accounted for 8 solo tackles and 4 assisted. The Tucker County Mt. Lions will return home this Friday to take on the Moorefield Yellowjackets, kickoff is set for 7pm.