BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
MAN, W.Va. — Man’s Trey Ward made a contested reception with just 0:37 left in the game and galloped 40 yards for a touchdown to pull the Hillbillies to within one point of Tug Valley. Man Coach Harvey Arms elected to go for the 2-point conversion and go ahead rather than kick the extra point and tie the game.
The home fans were ecstatic Friday at George Queen Memorial Stadium as the play worked. Quarterback Devon Sanders connected with husky tight end Lukas Harvey to put Man ahead 22-21 and ultimately pull away with the important victory in this battle of Class A powers.
Tug Valley came into the game with only one loss on the season and ranked No. 5, while Man had a record of 6-2 and was ranked No. 9.
Both teams will still make the playoffs, but the Billies win will help them move up in the top 16 and the Panthers will drop down with only one regular season game left.
Tug Valley was playing without the services of starting quarterback Preston May, who was out with a broken collarbone. The freshman signal-caller has been outstanding the last few games. He was injured in the Westside game. May hopes if Tug Valley wins its first game in the playoffs that he might be able to return.
Star running back Bryson Elia was forced to move to QB for Coach Hady Ford and his staff. Many of the plays were run out of the “wildcat” offense.
Much of the game was a defensive battle filled with multiple penalties.
Neither team scored in the first quarter. Tug Valley got into the red zone, but Man was able to block a field goal try to keep it tied at 0-0.
Tug Valley moved into Man territory in the second quarter. They got even more yardage on an Elia run on a personal foul penalty. Elia then ran it inside the 5-yard line. He then connected with wide receiver Ashton Davis on a 4-yard TD pass for the first score of the game. Aiden Bosserman booted the extra point to make it 7-0 with 7:51 left in the first half.
On the ensuing kickoff the speedy Ward took the football to the house for the Billies. The extra point kick was blocked so the Panthers still led 7-6.
The two teams continued to battle defensively and penalties hurt Tug Valley on one particular offensive drive.
The Panthers were able to increase their lead late in the second quarter. Elia and Adam Slone picked up back-to-back first downs on nice runs. Eventually Elia hit Cameron Slone in the end zone for another TD. The kick by Bosserman made it 14-6 at the half.
Man took the kickoff to start the second half and fumbled the pigskin. This looked like a good break for the Panthers. However they were unable to capitalize.
Later in the quarter, Man’s Sanders connected with Ward for a TD reception and the 2-point conversion tied the game at 14-14 at the 9:46 mark.
Ashton Davis recovered a fumble for TVHS. A few plays later, Elia got free on a keeper play and raced for a touchdown with 8:33 left in the contest. The kick made it 21-14 and the Panthers defense just had to hold Man out of the end zone.
It looked like Tug was going to pull out the win until Ward’s spectacular catch and run and then the 2-point conversion to put Man ahead with only seconds left.
Tug got the ball one last time but was unable to score. A couple of penalty flags were tossed on the Panthers in that last drive to stall any hopes of a miracle comeback.
Elia led the TVHS offense with 9-15 passing for 89 yards and a pair of TDs and he rushed for 137 yards on 27 carries. Adam Slone rushed for 40 yards on six tries. Cam Slone hauled in three passes for 25 yards and a TD, Buddy Marcum caught two passes for 21 yards, Brady Brewer two for 20 yards and Davis hauled in his TD reception.
On defense, Cane Thompson led the Panthers with 13 tackles, while big Dakoda Walker had 10 with a sack, Marcum had eight stops and a sack and Adam Slone added six stops.
Sanders was 5-10 passing for Man and two TDs. Ward caught two TD passes and had the kickoff return for all three of Man’s touchdowns.
Tug Valley is now 7-2 and will play its final regular season game Friday as they host a tough Van Bulldogs team for Senior Night.
Man is also 7-2 and will take on county rival Chapmanville on the road to finish out the regular season.
Then both teams will have to see who they will play in the postseason and if they finish in the top 8 and can host a first-round playoff game.
SCORE BY QUARTERS
Tug Valley: 0 14 0 7 – 21
Man: 0 6 8 8 – 22
