By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
The Homecoming buzz was swarming with energy as Moorefield unleashed damaging attacks against the Indians culminating in a 63-14 victory last Friday at Yellow Jacket Field.
This was the 61st meeting between the two squads dating back to 1932 with the Yellow Jackets (4-2) adding to their series lead of 39-19-3 over Class AA Berkeley Springs (1-4).
“I’m proud of them and they did an excellent job of executing what we wanted them to do in all facets of the game. They did a great job preparing this week with all the distractions of homecoming and they enjoyed it. They understood on Friday they had a job to do and came out ready to play. The school spirit is unreal from the community to the student body. Everyone that is here as a part of our program is amazing. Congratulations to Paxton [Coby] being named the Homecoming King, it must be great for him. It couldn’t have happened to better guy. The crowd we had and former players coming back into the locker room loving on our guys is awesome. I am proud of our guys staying focused and preparing all week,” Moorefield coach Matthew Altobello stated.
Moorefield’s Atikilt Tamiru notched a [private]touchback on the opening kickoff as the Indians started at the 20-yard line.
The game’s first play from scrimmage resulted in a defensive pass interference as Moorefield’s Jackson Weese made contact facing the receiver with his arms up as the ball arrived creating a first down at the 35-yard line.
Berkeley Springs runner Peyton Thompson broke free from tackle attempts for a 29-yard gain into Yellow Jackets territory before finally being hauled down by Weese at the 36-yard line.
After a false start and incomplete pass, Thompson gained just one yard with Moorefield’s Ethan Sines, Blake Funk and Vincent Cyrus making the stop.
Evan Thompson was stopped for no gain by Cyrus, leading to a bad snap on a punt and Cyrus garnered the tackle back at the 29-yard line.
Moorefield took full advantage of the short field position scoring in five plays.
It took a group of Indians to pull down Moorefield’s Matthew Jenkins on the initial two yard run, then Jenkins pushed through for a 16-yard first down carry.
The Yellow Jackets reached the six yard line on a five yard run by Jenkins and the first pass attempt by Brent Moran went awry prior to Jenkins capping off the drive with a six yard touchdown run and Tamiru added the extra point for a 7-nil edge at the 8:39 mark.
Tamiru executed an onside kick for the Yellow Jackets and teammate Coleman Mongold made the recovery to keep the momentum buzzing.
Starting at the Berkeley Springs 39-yard line, Moran escaped out of the pocket and launched the ball just crossing the line of scrimmage with Weese making the catch racing down to the 10-yard line with the play called back on the illegal forward pass.
On second down, Weese ran for five yards and the Indians were called for being offsides on the next play.
Jenkins plowed ahead for a first down on a 17-yard carry into the red zone at the 15-yard line.
Jenkins added 12 yards to move the chains at the three yard line with a stop by Evan Thompson. Moorefield doubled the lead as Jenkins took the next handoff scoring from three yards out and Tamiru iced the extra point for the 14-0 score at the 7:08 mark.
After a touchback on the kickoff, the Indians went three and out as Evan Thompson managed just six yards on three carries with Moorefield’s Sines, Funk, Malachi Hinger, Matthew Weatherholt, Cooper Riggleman, Jenkins and Cyrus making tackles forcing a punt.
The Yellow Jackets started on their own 31-yard line after a penalty during the return and Dequavious Kornegay rushed for five yards.
Moran faked a handoff and dashed around the corner for one yard keeper, then Jenkins added two yards.
Moorefield elected to go for it on fourth down and Moran gained the first down conversion at the 45-yard line on the six yard play.
Jenkins cut through the line for a 55-yard touchdown run and Tamiru’s kick created a 21-0 advantage.
Moorefield’s Vincent Cyrus tackled Peyton Thompson for a three-yard loss, then Berkeley Springs gained six yard on a run by Evan Thompson.
Coleman Mongold made a jarring hit forcing an incomplete pass and the Indians punted.
The Yellow Jackets began the next possession at the 37-yard line and Moran connected with Jaydon See on a 30-yard pass to the Berkeley Springs 33-yard line.
Moran fumbled the ball on the ensuing play and the Indians recovered at the 31-yard line, then Evan Thompson made a four yard catch to close the quarter.
On the second incomplete pass to begin the second quarter, there was a personal foul roughing the quarterback penalty moving the chains at midfield for Berkeley Springs.
Berkeley Springs couldn’t connect on aerial plays four more times for a turnover on downs which included a pass deflection by Moorefield’s Roger Myers.
Jenkins slipped on a pass thrown in his direction, but there was a holding call backing up the Yellow Jackets to the 30-yard line.
Moorefield’s Kennan Mongold rushed for six yards, then Moran eluded defenders to the outside on a 19-yard gain into Indians territory.
After an offensive penalty, Moorefield punted the ball and the Indians returner had the ball jarred loose on a hit by Tamiru and Gavin Wolfe made the fumble recovery for the Yellow Jackets at the Berkeley Springs 43-yard line.
Moran had a pass go awry, then Jenkins rushed 13 yard for a first down at the 30-yard line.
The Yellow Jackets moved into the red zone at the 16-yard line on a barreling 14-yard run by Jenkins carrying defenders on the route.
Kornegay rushed for 12 yards to the four yard line for another Moorefield first down.
After a two-yard pickup by Jenkins, Blake Funk made a two-yard touchdown catch from Moran at the 8:10 mark of the second quarter and Tamiru added the extra point for a 28-nil lead.
Berkeley Springs kick returner Evan Thompson made a 48-yard return and was stopped by Wolfe shy of midfield.
Thompson was met at the line of scrimmage by Jenkins, then an offensive penalty pushed the Indians back.
Berkeley Springs managed a couple of more yards before punting away as Funk and Cyrus made tackles.
Moorefield started on the 24-yard line and scored in seven plays using up just over three minutes of action.
Jenkins made a catch for one yard and Kornegay rushed for three yards as the Yellow Jackets kept the ball moving.
Weese snatched a pass for nine yards resulting in a first down.
After a short gain by Jenkins, Kennan Mongold moved the chains for the Yellow Jackets dodging tackles on a 14-yard catch into Berkeley Springs territory at the 47-yard line.
Jenkins rushed for eight yards slamming into a defender along the sidelines at the 39-yard line.
Moran connected with Jenkins on a 39-yard touchdown pass and Tamiru’s kick boosted the Yellow Jackets advantage to 35-nil with 2:32 remaining in the first half.
Berkeley Springs committed a penalty and Moorefield’s Vincent Cyrus made a tackle for no gain before a hit by Jenkins created an incomplete pass keeping the possession at the 26-yard line.
The ensuing Indians pass was intercepted by Moorefield’s Roger Myers with a return to the nine yard line.
The Yellow Jackets scored a touchdown in two plays as Moran rushed for seven yards and finished the drive in the end zone on a two-yard keeper with 37 seconds on the clock and Tamiru’s kick made it a 42-0 lead.
Evan Thompson rushed for 17 yards to put Berkeley Springs at the 38-yard line, but the Indians decided to let the clock run down to halftime without running another sequence.
The homecoming festivities continued at halftime for the Yellow Jackets.
Abigail Eye was named the Moorefield Homecoming Queen and Paxton Coby was selected as the Moorefield Homecoming King.
The fireworks resumed in the second half as Moorefield’s Matthew Jenkins rushed 75 yards for a touchdown on the second play of the third quarter and Tamiru added the extra point for a 49-0 score at the 11:39 mark.
Moorefield’s defensive stops by Cyrus, Weatherholt, Hinger, Jenkins and Myers created a fourth down-and-one situation at the 29-yard line.
Berkeley Springs failed to convert a fourth down being penalized for having too many players on the field, despite the lineman’s running opportunity making the distance.
The Indians opted to punt replaying the fourth down and there was a high snap and a fumble forced on a tackle by Cyrus in the end zone, then the ball was kicked around by Funk and Cyrus made the touchdown recovery at the 9:26 mark with Tamiru’s kick sending the score to 56-nil.
Berkeley Springs’ Gavin Barkley’s pass was tipped up and Moorefield’s Tyberious Clayton made the interception returning the ball to the Indians 26-yard line.
Kornegay rushed 26 yards for the Yellow Jackets touchdown and Tamiru’s extra point extended the advantage to 63-0 with 7:32 left in the third quarter.
The Yellow Jackets emptied the sidelines giving the rest of the squad experience on the field for the remainder of the game.
Berkeley Springs covered a distance of 90 yards in about six minutes using 14 plays ending in an 18-yard touchdown run by Hunter Ambrose at the 1:36 mark.
The Yellow Jackets fumbled the kickoff and Berkeley Springs’ Shawn Ott recovered the ball at the Moorefield 30-yard line.
Six plays later, the Indians scored a touchdown as Gavin Barkley made a five yard run to begin the fourth quarter at the 11:37 mark and the extra point sliced the deficit to the final score of 63-14.
Moorefield’s Kennan Mongold rushed 35 yards into Indians territory at the 45-yard line.
Mongold added five more yards on the ground before being tackled for a loss.
The next play was a catch by Mongold, who dodged defenders cutting back across the field before being hit hard resulting in an injury and the ball being jarred loose with a recovery by Berkeley Springs.
A couple of penalties plus tackles by Moorefield’s Gavin Wolfe, Aidan Richardson, Tyberious Clayton, Tim Hedrick, Kendall Pumphrey and Remington Funkhouser denied a first down.
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The Yellow Jackets took a knee to finish the homecoming victory 63-14.
Moorefield hosts Northern Garrett this Friday.