East Hardy Early Middle School tackled its first Potomac Valley League Football Championship in program history with a 26-8 victory over the Pioneers last Wednesday in Baker.
Having been the runner-up the last three seasons, the Cougars could taste the victory this time facing Romney Middle School.
“It is a great feeling, especially after losing so many in a row and throughout the years. The boys really deserved this one. The whole community here deserved this one. It is a great win for everybody over here on this side of the mountain,” East Hardy Early Middle School coach Adam Simmons remarked.
“I knew they would make adjustments from the first time we faced them and I didn’t know what they would be. We saw what they were doing and we had to make our adjustments, then we got a little heads up on it. It’s always nice to jump on top and get that lead. The boys start to play more loose and fast when we are up and that’s what we did tonight. It is great to keep the title in Hardy County for at least four years in a row. It is nice to finally have one on our side of the mountain. It is just great for these kids, who came out and worked hard everyday.”
Romney Middle School kept the Cougars out of the end zone for the first quarter, but couldn’t score as EHEMS (7-1) clamped down on defense as well.
EHEMS caught the initial break in the second quarter as Cougars defender Kyle Hunt recovered a fumble at the 4:05 mark which led to a touchdown on the ensuing possession.
EHEMS quarterback Mason Miller rushed 64 yards for the championship’s first touchdown and the two-point conversion came up short as EHEMS took a 6-0 lead over Romney Middle at the 3:54 mark.
Romney Middle covered 20 yards in four plays to reach midfield using several running plays and recovered a fumble, then defensive tackles by EHEMS’s Dawson Price, Miles Kidwell, Gavin Walker and Damien Dellinger corralled the Pioneers for a punt.
The Cougars took over at their own 10-yard line with 51 seconds remaining in the second quarter and engineered a five-play scoring drive.
After an incomplete pass, EHEMS’s Dylan Poling made a first down catch at the 26-yard line and dashed out of bounds.
Miller rushed for nine yards and a timeout was called with 32 seconds to go.
A first down run by Miller was made at the 46-yard line and quickly stepped out with four seconds left.
As time expired, Miller connected with Dawson Price for a 54-yard touchdown reception as the Cougars grabbed a 12-0 advantage at halftime (missed conversion pass).
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EHEMS began the third quarter at its own 46-yard line and Price carried the ball nine yards, then added two more for a first down at the Pioneers 44-yard line.
Two more Price carries created six yards, then Romney Middle was called for being offsides.
Price rushed 33 yards for a touchdown, but it was nullified on a holding penalty putting the line of scrimmage at the 43-yard line.
Price erased the negative yardage with a 28-yard run into the red zone at the 15-yard line before being tripped up by Romney Middle.
A push in the back by the Cougars meant a distance of 25 yards to reach the end zone.
EHEMS’s Gavin Walker caught a 24-yard pass from Miller on second down and was tackled one yard shy of the end zone.
Miller punched the ball into the end zone for the one-yard touchdown and Price added the two-point conversion to give the Cougars a 20-nil lead at the 3:40 mark.
Romney Middle converted a third down at the 34-yard line on rushing plays, then two plays later went for an aerial attack as the Pioneers swiftly got deep inside the red zone on a 55-yard catch with EHEMS defenders Miller and Bryan Flynn making the stop.
On the next play, Miller stripped the ball away for a turnover giving the Cougars the ball at the 19-yard line with under a minute left in the third quarter.
Miller rushed for 11 yards and Price notched two more yards to close the third quarter at the 32-yard line.
On the first play of the final stanza, Price garnered a first down at the 40-yard line as EHEMS kept the momentum going in the championship with a 20-0 lead.
Price moved the chains again on the ensuing play reaching midfield.
The Cougars put the ball in Price’s hands four more times resulting in a touchdown to cap the drive.
Price covered a third down at the 35-yard line, then plowed over Pioneers defenders to cut inside the red zone at the 16-yard line.
EHEMS finished the possession with Price carrying the ball 16 yards for the touchdown with 4:42 remaining in the championship and the conversion attempt was intercepted as the score now stood at 26-0.
The Pioneers finally managed to get on the scoreboard with under two minutes to play denying a shutout on a six yard touchdown run and a conversion creating a 26-8 final score.
EHEMS was on cloud nine, celebrating the first PVL championship in school history setting the bar high for future teams.
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