Elia rushes for 231 yards and three touchdowns
BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK — It was a busy Friday for Tug Valley Panther fans as they hosted East Ridge (Ky.). It was the homecoming game and also Hall of Fame weekend.
Coach Hady Ford’s squad made the Panther fans drive away happy as they defeated the Warriors 33-22 with a strong second-half defensive effort.
Tug Valley took a 6-0 lead with 6:11 left in the first quarter as Adam Slone hit paydirt on a 9-yard run. Caleb Totten booted the extra point to make it 7-0.
After a big defensive stand and holding East Ridge to three straight losses, the Warriors were forced to punt.
This time the Panthers rode the back of freshman tailback Bryson Elia. The speedy freshman had gains of 34 and 20 yards to get the ball deep into East Ridge territory. He capped off the drive with a 3-yard touchdown run. The kick failed but Tug Valley led 13-0.
East Ridge cut into the lead with a nice pass from quarterback Dylan Burdine to Brad Howell. Burdine ran in for the 2-point conversion to make it 13-8.
Elia scored his second TD of the first half with 7:24 left in the second quarter from 17 yards out. A bad snap on the conversion kick kept TVHS from getting the extra point but they led 19-8.
Isaiah Adkins broke loose for a long East Ridge touchdown on the ensuing kickoff with just over 7:00 left in the half. Adkins, the Warriors leading running back, scored another TD and a 2-point conversion to help the visitors take a 22-19 lead heading into the dressing room at halftime. Adkins rushed for 115 yards and had 57 more via the pass to lead East Ridge.
Coach Ford and his staff must have lit a fire under his team in the dressing room at the half. The TV defense held East Ridge scoreless in the second half.
The Panthers added a touchdown in both the third and fourth quarters. Elia scored his third TD of the game, while sophomore quarterback Elijah Fluty hit paydirt for a TD and 2-point conversion as Tug Valley pulled out the hard-fought win.
Elia rushed for a career-high 237 yards on 36 carries, while Slone carried the pigskin six times for 63 yards. Fluty added 26 yards on four attempts and completed 4-9 passing for 23 yards.
Defensively, Austin Smith led the Panthers with seven tackles, while Slone, Elia and Ashton Davis each had four stops.
Tug Valley came into the game ranked No. 2 in Class A in the Mountain State. They will travel to Hurley, Va., for a road game this week.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
East Ridge: 0 22 0 0 – 22
Tug Valley: 13 6 6 8 – 33