BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
MAN, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers went into their game Halloween Friday night against regional rival Man High School without two of their best offensive players. Senior Bryson Elia, a running back and junior quarterback Preston May. Both were all-state selections from last season. The Panthers were also playing without starting lineman Spencer Workman.
All three missed the football game at Man’s William “Tootie” Carter Field after suffering injuries in last week’s game with Tolsia.
In the end, the Hillbillies caged the Panthers 28-6. The game was called with 1:48 left in the fourth quarter due to the lights going out at Man.
“We were down three starters on offense and had to move three more guys from original positions, so it was tough to get in any kind of rhythm,” Coach Hady Ford said of the injuries.
“May, Elia and Workman are all week to week. All three are probably out for James Monroe but we will see how their recovery is going after that. We definitely don’t want them to have any further injuries,” he added.
Friday was senior night.
“So we knew they were going to come in with a little more motivation,” said Ford of Man High School. “Plus, with a win, it greatly increases their chances of making the playoffs. So, yeah, they had a lot to be motivated for.”
The two teams battled to a 0-0 tie after one quarter, but Man took an 8-0 lead in the second frame as running back Kaleb Mullins hit paydirt and tacked on the 2-point conversion to give the home team the lead heading into the dressing rooms at the half.
Mullins scored another touchdown in the third quarter and two more in the final 12 minutes to give Man breathing room. The tough running back finished with 193 yards rushing on 37 carries and 4 TDs.
Tug Valley got its lone touchdown of the night as reserve quarterback Jarron Holyfield connected with wide receiver Cameron Slone for a long touchdown pass in the third quarter.
Man had 311 total yards on offense, most of that on the ground. Besides Mullins, Aaron Vanover gained 38 yards on six tries, while Josh Springs picked up 66 yards on five carries.
Tug Valley only had 129 total yards of offense.
Holyfield was 10-19 passing for 116 yards and a TD. Slone caught three passes for 77 yards, while Gavin Fitzpatrick hauled in five passes for 50 yards.
Holyfield gained 16 yards on the ground, while Slone and Cane Thompson both had 9 yards rushing.
On defense, Thompson once again led the Panthers in tackles with 13, while Ben Gilman had 11, Fitzpatrick 10 and Bryson Richardson 9.
Tug Valley, now 6-3, came into the game ranked No. 3 in Class A in the Mountain State, while Man was just outside of the top 16 at No. 17 and now has a record of 3-6. Tug will probably drop down, but remain in the top 8. The Billies will likely move up into the top 16 this week with their win.
The Panthers will hit the road again this week for the final regular-season game of the year as they take on highly ranked Class AA James Monroe.
“They’re a good top 10 AA team that’s going to be ready,” Ford said of James Monroe. “So we have to match their intensity. We have to go out and play assignment football.”
Man improved its playoff chances with the win. They will take on the ranked and undefeated Wahama (9-0) this week.
Score by quarters:
Tug: 0 0 6 0 – 6
Man: 0 8 6 14 – 28