First-ever win over Miners for Panthers
BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
RED JACKET, W.Va. — The weather was hot and humid with temperatures and a heat index near 100 degrees for the rare Thursday night season opener between visiting Tug Valley at Mingo Central.
It was Tug Valley who came away with the win – a solid 14-6 victory in front of a huge crowd at Buck Harless Stadium high atop Miner Mountain. This was the first time the two teams met on Mingo Central’s home turf. It was the first-ever victory for Tug Valley over Mingo Central in football.
Even though the two schools are the only high schools in the county these days due to consolidation, this was only the third time they have met on the gridiron.
The Class AA Miners led the series 2-0 heading into the 2024 match-up with the Class A Panthers. They won last year when the series started back up. The other game was in Mingo Central’s first year as a school back in 2011. Both teams came into the opener ranked in the top 10 of their respective classifications in West Virginia.
The game was a tough defensive battle between the two county rivals.
Tug Valley scored first as sophomore quarterback Preston May connected with sophomore Cameron Slone down the right side of the field near the sideline. Slone made a great leaping catch between a couple of Mingo defensive backs, and he was able to get to paydirt for Tug’s first touchdown of the young season. The offensive drive was a 91-yard drive for TVHS. Aiden Bosserman booted the extra point to give the Panthers a 7-0 lead after one quarter.
The Panthers of Coach Hady Ford continued to play some hard-hitting defense and after a good stand got the pigskin back early in the second quarter.
Both teams kept the officials busy as a lot of penalties were flagged against both teams.
“I think a lot of it was from timing and mental focus. Being a big rival game probably played a part in that as well,” Ford added.
On the other side of the football, Mingo’s defense also made a good stand as Aidan Burke came up with a big interception for the Miners. However, Mingo was then forced to punt giving Tug Valley excellent field position.
Then with 1:21 left in the half, May hit senior tight end Ashton Davis in the middle of the field for a 25-yard TD catch and run. Bosserman’s kick made it 14-0 heading into the dressing room at the half.
The third quarter was still a defensive slug-fest as both teams held the other out of the end zone.
Mingo Central cut into the lead with 8:18 left in the fourth quarter. Burke threw a long halfback pass to Dylan Vance, who caught it and ran into the end zone for a 55-yard TD. The Miners coaching staff went for a 2-point conversion, but a bad snap forced a bad pass and left the score 14-6.
However, there was still time for the Miners to come back and the momentum seemed to switch to Mingo Central.
On Tug’s next offensive possession, May was intercepted by Mingo’s Bo Hatfield, who raced all the way down to the Panther’s 5-yard line before being knocked out of bounds.
Tug’s defense stood strong and even with the Miners deep in the red zone the Panthers held the home team and kept them from scoring.
This included a huge stop on the 1-yard line for Tug Valley with 6:09 left on the game clock.
Mingo Central had one more opportunity in the closing minutes, however Tug Valley’s Gavin Fitzpatrick came up with a big interception with 1:20 left in the contest. The Panthers were able to seal the win for the Panthers and take a knee on the final two snaps as the final seconds ticked off the game clock.
“It’s always good to start out the year with a win especially with a quality opponent. It really gets you going in the right direction coming out of the gates,” Coach Ford said.
Mingo Central coach David Jones spoke well of Tug Valley.
“I have nothing but respect for Tug Valley,” Jones said. “There are no excuses – Tug came to our place and got the win.”
May, a sophomore quarterback, completed 15-of-24 passes for 189 yards and a pair of touchdowns. He did have three interceptions. May rushed for 44 yards on eight tries.
Returning All-Stater Bryson Elia had 17 carries for 49 yards. Elia also caught three passes for 40 yards. He also had an interception on defense and a couple of big pass deflections while also catching three passes for 40 yards. Cameron Slone finished with four catches for 67 yards and a touchdown and one tote for 24 yards.
Ashton Davis caught five passes for 56 yards and a touchdown.
“We’re trying to get a balanced offense and it is something we have been working on. The more balanced we can be, the more it helps both aspects of the offense,” Ford, who was a former assistant at Mingo Central, stressed.
Adam Slone led the Panthers on defense with 11 tackles. Cane Thompson had five tackles and was key on pass defense as well.
“Adam Slone and Cane Thompson played really well for us defensively. They really stepped up and made some big plays. We had several other guys step up and make big plays when we needed it the most. I am really proud of our team and the determination they showed on the big goal-line stand,” Ford stated.
“Our line play has the potential to be one of the best groups in Single A. We just have to keep the mindset of working hard every day and continue to get better, Coach Ford said of the players in the trenches.
For the Miners, Dylan Vance led his team in both rushing and receiving with 124 total yards. He had 60 yards on the ground with eight carries, and he hauled in three passes for 64 yards and Mingo’s only touchdown.
QB Jaxon Nenni-Mills, a transfer from TVHS, completed 2-of-5 passes for 10 yards and one interception. Caden Porter also saw action at QB and completed 3-of-6 passes for 23 yards.
Taegan Hackney led Mingo with seven stops, while Logan Hurley had six.
Tug Valley will head up Corridor G to Boone County Friday to battle the Sherman Tide.
Mingo Central will motor to Wyoming County Friday for their first road game at Westside High School.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Tug: 7 7 0 0 -14
Mingo: 0 0 0 6 – 6