BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers held on to win a first-round Class A playoff game 28-26 over visiting Tyler Consolidated on a damp, cool and foggy Friday night at Bob Brewer Stadium in Naugatuck.
The fog got thicker and thicker as the game headed into the final minutes. It only added to the drama of the final quarter as the Panthers held on for the win.
Tug Valley, ranked No. 7 coming into the playoffs, took the early lead as running back Adam Slone hit paydirt from 2 yards out. The Aiden Bosserman kick made it 7-0.
Tug Valley’s Bryson Elia scored from 69 yards out for a touchdown on a QB keeper. Tug led Tyler Consolidated 14-6 with 3:45 left in the first.
The speedy Elia scored again on a 25-yard run to give the Panthers 21-6 with 4:25 to go in the first half after Bosserman’s extra point kick.
Elia showed he could also throw the football as he connected with wideout Cameron Slone on a 17-yard TD pass. The kick made it 28-6 right before the first half ended.
Tyler Consolidated, ranked No. 10, cut into the lead with a TD in the third quarter to make it 28-12. The Knights scored on a 77-yard TD pass from QB Brady Strode to Sean Winfrey. The two-point try failed, but TC cut the lead to 28-12 with 9:27 left in the third period.
The Knights got another TD late in the third, with the conversion, cut the Tug Valley lead to 28-20. It was a good run by Sean Winfrey of TCHS on a 56-yard rush to the end zone. Bo Tallman ran in for the two-point conversion with just under a minute left in the quarter.
Tyler cut the lead to 28-26 with a TD run by Talman. But Buddy Marcum made a big tackle on the 2-point conversion after a 5-yard penalty on the offensive line. The stop let the Panthers keep the lead by two points with 7:38 left in the game. It would prove to be very important as the game continued.
Tug Valley needed a first down and some breathing room. Elia his Cam Slone on a screen pass for a 44-yard gain and got into Knight’s territory.
However the Knights got one more chance after an interception. They started the drive on their own 20-yard line.
A long pass to Reece Davis from Strode took the ball deep into TVHS territory. Tug Valley’s defense came up big with two big stops, including Dakoda Walker batting down a screen pass on third down.
From that point Tug Valley only had to eat up the final seconds on the clock to advance in postseason.
Elia once again led the Tug Valley offense. He had 24 rushes for 178 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He was 9-18 passing for 103 yards and a TD.
The Slone brothers continued to play well on offense. Adam Slone caught three passes for 52 yards and rushed 10 times for 52 yards, while Cam Slone caught four passes for 28 yards and a TD.
On defense Adam Slone had 12 tackles, while Marcum had 11 with two sacs and Cane Thompson had 10 tackles. Ashton Davis had two sacks as part of his five tackles.
“Survive and advance,” Coach Hady Ford told his squad after the game. “I’m excited for the team, our fans and the community.”
This was only the second time in school history to have a playoff game at Bob Brewer Stadium.
“It was exciting for everyone. To come away with a win makes it even better. We were able to do what very few panthers have ever done,” said Ford.
“Tyler (Consolidated) came out and fought hard in the second half but our guys stepped up when it counted and that’s what it takes to win playoff games. Those guys dug down and found what it takes to stand up and fight when it matters the most. That was truly exciting. When adversity comes you find out who you are, and we found out we have what it takes to finish.”
Ford praised his seniors for their leadership and making some big plays down the stretch to pull out the win.
“We have to get ready for this week, get back to the grind,” he concluded.
Tug Valley (9-2) will hit the road to take on No. 2 Tucker County (11-0) in round 2 of the Class A playoffs this week.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Tyler Cons: 6 0 14 6 – 26
Tug Valley: 14 14 0 0 – 28