BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The much-anticipated football game between Tug Valley and Mingo Central was played Thursday night as both teams opened their 2023 season at Bob Brewer Field in Naugatuck. Using a hard-working defense and quick offense, the Miners ended up winning 38-0 to pick up the season-opening win.
The temperatures were hot, but a large, standing-room-only capacity crowd attended the game. It was only the second time the two schools had met on the football field. The first time was back in 2011, the first year for Mingo Central, and the Miners won that game easily.
Mingo Central led 12-0 at halftime, then increased the lead to 26-0 after three quarters and scored two more touchdowns in the final.
Tug Valley fumbled on the opening kickoff and Mingo Central’s James Moore recovered it at the Panther 29-yard line. Two plays later dual-threat senior quarterback Chris Ross carried the ball in from 2 yards out to give Mingo Central a 6-0 lead. The conversion failed.
That seemed to turn the momentum toward the Miners.
With 6:58 left in the first half, sophomore Aiden Burke found the end zone for the Miners on a 24-yard carry around the right end as he tight-roped the sideline. Once again the conversion failed. However the Miners went into the dressing room with a 12-0 lead.
The first half ended with an interception by Mingo’s Malaki Sheppard.
Tug Valley gained momentum in the second half with a big interception by Bryson Elia. Still, the Panthers were not able to get much going on offense.
Mingo Central kept their foot on the gas pedal in the third quarter. Ross connected with Dylan Vance on a 32-yard touchdown pass to make the score 18-0.
With 3:13 left in the third Mingo’s Vance squeezed into the end zone with a 1-yard TD. Ross ran in for the conversion and two more points.
Mingo scored again, this time on a 4-yard run. Ross added a conversion run to make the score 26-0.
After another fumble recovery by the Miners, and with 11:11 left in the game, Ross hooked up with Burke on a 19-yard pass to increase Mingo Central’s lead to 32-0.
The Miners’ final touchdown came in the fourth quarter as senior fullback Amanti Lovett hit paydirt to make it 38-0. From that point it was a running clock as the final seconds ticked away.
Ross led the way for Mingo Central on offense. The speedy QB completed 11-of-17 passes for 148 yards and two touchdowns and one interception. Ross picked up 68 yards on the ground with 11 carries and a TD.
Vance, a junior, rushed for 87 yards and a touchdown, while Burke, another junior, rushed four times for 31 yards and a TD. Lovett had five rushing attempts for 30 yards and one touchdown.
Vance led the Miners receivers with five receptions for 59 yards and one touchdown. Burke hauled in a pair of passes for 50 yards and a score. Sheppard, a senior, had two receptions for 17 yards.
On defense, Sheppard led the Miners with five tackles, while Lovett and Taegan Hackney each had four tackles. Davion Joplin added an interception.
For Tug Valley (0-1), junior QB Jaxon Nenni-Mills completed 6-of-12 passes for 57 yards. Freshman Preston May completed 1-of-4 passes for 6 yards and an interception in the final quarter.
Adam Slone had seven carries for 15 yards, while May added a tote for 9 yards. Mills was bottled up by the Mingo defense and had 17 yards on the ground.
Sophomore Bryson Elia led the TVHS receivers with 58 yards on four receptions. Junior Brady Brewer added one catch for 6 yards.
Defensively, freshman Cane Thompson led the Panthers with 14 tackles, including three for a loss. Elia and Slone each added six tackles and Dakoda Walker had five.
Tug Coach Hady Ford was naturally disappointed with the loss but knows it is a long season ahead.
Ford said his squad made too many mental mistakes and he was not pleased with their intensity.
The game featured the coaching debut of former University of Kentucky and Belfry High School standout David Jones at Mingo Central. Jones began his career at Matewan High School, one of the schools that merged to combine the consolidated school.
The Miners hope this is a start to a winning season and a berth in the Class AA playoffs this season.
For Tug Valley, there is plenty of season left and they still have a great shot at making the Class A postseason this year.
Tug Valley returns to their home field this week, playing host to Sherman on Friday night. Mingo Central will play its first home game Friday as they host Westside from Wyoming County.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Mingo: 6 6 14 12 – 38
Tug: 0 0 0 0 – 0