A torrential downpour created slick conditions for the Potomac Valley League Football Championship in Parsons where Tucker Valley Middle School gutted out a triple overtime victory edging the Yellow Jackets by a score of 22-14 last Wednesday.
The score was deadlocked at 8-all for the entire second half requiring overtime to decide the fate of the championship.
“This was a tough game. Both teams played lights out. You couldn’t ask for a better game. They are a well-oiled machined and stuck to what they know and kept bringing it. They kept coming at us and I am just at a loss for words. This was a well-fought game by both teams. Before the game, I said the team with the least amount of turnovers would win this game and I think that was the result. I knew it was a tough, slow game and I didn’t expect three overtimes,” Tucker Valley Middle Football coach Nathaniel Goldstein remarked.
“I think this means a lot, especially with our high school team not having its best year. I think this gave the community something to look forward to, it brought us together as a community. This is something we can look forward to for the next level in the future.”
Moorefield Middle School won the coin toss and chose to be on defense to begin the first overtime with the Wildcats possession starting at the 20-yard line per the rule for each extra period.
Tucker Valley’s Ashton Lycliter, a giant among the middle school players, was brought down by Moorefield Middle’s Axton Runions after a run of two yards.
Maddox Anderson took a pitch for the Wildcats and dodged tackles to reach the end zone for a touchdown, but the two-point conversion attempt went awry as Garrett Wilfong fumbled the ball and was [private]tackled by Alex Miller with Tucker Valley up 14-8.
It was now the Yellow Jackets’ turn to answer the challenge and Adam Landes gained two yards on the initial play with a stop by Wilfong.
Runions added three yards and was tackled by Tucker Valley’s Gavin Mullenax.
Moorefield Middle managed to add four more yards on a carry by Runions, but now faced fourth down and one yard with the season on the line.
The Yellow Jackets went with a ground attack again as Landes broke through the defense for seven yards and a first down and goal opportunity.
Landes scored a touchdown on the ensuing play from four yards out to tie the game at 14-all for Moorefield Middle.
The Yellow Jackets attempted the two-point conversion, but Landes was kept out of the end zone by Tucker Valley’s Jeremiah Wratchford and Jared Reall to force a second overtime.
“You couldn’t ask for anything more. These guys played right down to the last minute. Unfortunately somebody has to come out ahead. For us to have four turnovers and take that game to overtime, that is a feat in itself. These guys should keep their heads up and put their chest out for their effort. I told the young guys to remember this and hopefully they won’t let it happen next year. I thought the weather would help us with their passing game, but it ended up being our Achilles heel with four fumbles. That is just the way it is with Mother Nature, football gods at their best. Adversity isn’t an issue for these guys, they keep battling. We were literally two yards from going to another overtime and I am super proud of them,” Moorefield Middle Football coach Eric Linville commented.
Landes fumbled the ball, the fourth time for the Yellow Jackets on the night, during a tackle by Mark Phillips and the ball was recovered by Anderson for the Wildcats sliding out on the play.
There was no challenge on the play as Tucker Valley took its turn from the 20-yard line in the second overtime.
During a carry by Lycliter, the Wildcats were flagged for holding backing up the possession to the 34-yard line.
Wilfong made a catch for no gain as Moorefield Middle’s Santana Ramirez read the play making the tackle.
Grant Sherman almost had an interception for the Yellow Jackets, but dropped the intended pass.
Tucker Valley failed to find the end zone on two incomplete passes as Wilfong slipped on his route and Moorefield Middle’s Guyan Kahangirwe defended on the fourth down and 24 attempt.
The Wildcats started possession in the third overtime with a two yard run by Lycliter with Sherman making the tackle as Matix Delawder tried to rip the ball out.
Tucker Valley’s Anderson was stopped for no gain by Moorefield Middle’s Alex Miller.
After an offsides call, Lycliter broke through tackles on third down before being brought down by Yellow Jackets defenders Miller and Michael Cost just shy of the goal line.
The ball came loose on the play, but ruled down on contact.
Lycliter punched the ball into the end zone for the game-winning touchdown for the Wildcats and a penalty on the two-point conversion play meant a second try with Wilfong making the catch for the 22-14 advantage.
Moorefield Middle needed to respond to keep the championship game going.
Runions rushed for four yards and was stopped by Mullenax and Wratchford.
Landes added two yards with a tackle by Phillips at the 14-yard line.
Facing third down and four yards to go, Landes eluded the Wildcats on a nine yard run for a first down and goal situation at the five yard line for Moorefield Middle in the third overtime.
Landes gained two yard and was stopped by Mullenax, then the Yellow Jackets committed a false start.
A two yard run was made by Landes and a timeout was called.
Moorefield Middle opted to run to the outside with Landes gaining four more yards with a stop at the two yard line by Wilfong.
Tucker Valley made the goal line stand denying Runions from piercing through the line of scrimmage to seal the PVL championship in three overtimes, 22-14.
Moorefield Middle burned the clock in the first quarter methodically moving through the rain drops and kept opening series alive converting a fourth down at the Tucker Valley 37-yard line on a run by Axton Runions.
The Yellow Jackets struck first on a 37-yard touchdown run by Adam Landes and the conversion catch by Guyan Kahangirwe from Tyson Arnold created an 8-0 lead with just under a minute left in the first quarter (0:52).
The Wildcats finally had a chance to work on offense, but the first play from the 43-yard line was an incompletion.
A bad snap recovered by Tucker Valley’s Joseph Wratchford with a tackle by Runions backed up the Wildcats 13 yards.
There was a holding call on the Wildcats to end the first quarter which led to a punt to begin the second quarter as Moorefield Middle returned the ball to the 42-yard line.
A 13-yard catch by Moorefield Middle’s Ronny Greist was negated on a holding penalty.
Landes took the ball for the Yellow Jackets and dashed to the outside on a 17-yard carry, but was forced out of bounds slipping in the wet conditions resulting in a huge slide crashing into the water coolers.
Runions about eight yards and Landes garnered a first down at the Tucker Valley 47, but the Yellow Jackets fumbled on the ensuing play.
Tucker Valley recovered the ball at the 35-yard line and Anderson rushed for six yards and caught a pass for four yards to gain a first down with stops by Runions and Sherman.
Anderson collected another pass for 14 yards and another first down entering Moorefield Middle territory at the 41-yard line with four minutes to go in the first half.
Three plays later, Lycliter made a 28-yard touchdown catch and received the two-point conversion pass as Tucker Valley tied the game at 8-all with 2:54 remaining in the second quarter.
The Yellow Jackets faced third down at the 40-yard line and converted for a first down on a 16-yard run by Runions to the Wildcats 44-yard line.
As the rain splashed down on the game, Moorefield Middle’s Adam Landes fumbled the ball and the Wildcats’ Wilfong made the recovery with 31 seconds to go in the half.
Tucker County wasn’t able to score again before halftime despite a reverse by Lycliter for 21 yards reaching the Yellow Jackets 34-yard line with Sherman making the tackle.
Tucker Valley started the second half at the 47-yard line after an onside kick and managed only ten yards picking up one first down before punting as the Yellow Jackets had some big tackles made by Runions, Greist, Miller, Ramirez, Delawder and Trace Pope.
The Yellow Jackets started at their own 12-yard line and Runions made two carries for nine yards, then Landes moved the chains at the 28-yard line.
Kahangirwe made a 19-yard reception on second down reaching midfield for another first down.
Runions added six yards, then a fumble by Greist was recovered by Ethan Eye for a first down at the Tucker Valley 40-yard line.
Moorefield Middle’s Runions fumbled the ball and Lycliter recovered this time for Tucker Valley at the 35-yard line.
Sherman made a tackle for a loss to end the third quarter.
Tucker Valley started the fourth quarter throwing the ball and it was knocked down by Yellow Jackets’ Greist.
Anderson was stopped for a six yard loss by Sherman which led to a Wildcats punt.
The Yellow Jackets made a couple yards shy midfield before a fumble on a backward pass, then gained five yards on an offsides call before punting.
Lycliter gained two yards before being stopped by Moorefield’s Cost, Delawder and Runions at the 33-yard line.
Tucker Valley recovered an own fumble, then a pass went through the hands of Moorefield Middle’s Grant Sherman nearly getting an interception and the deflection was almost caught by Anderson diving to the ball before punting again.
Landes converted fourth down and inches at the 47-yard line for the Yellow Jackets with two minute left in regulation.
Runions added four yards to the Tucker Valley 43-yard line, then the Wildcats made a stop for no gain.
Moorefield Middle faced fourth down and five at the 42-yard line with one minute to go, then Landes dodged some tackles only for the play to be negated on a holding call.
From midfield, the Yellow Jackets went to the air and the pass was deflected.
Tucker Valley took over and a reverse was made by Lycliter, but there was a block in the back.
Time ran out at the 40-yard line, then 11 seconds added back as there was a timeout called.
The Wildcats tossed an incomplete backward pass as time expired and Kahangirwe made the tackle for Moorefield Middle to end regulation.
These teams duked it out in three overtimes with Tucker Valley prevailing for the PVL title, 22-14[/private]