Tug downs Sherman 33-12
BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
SETH, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers rolled over the Sherman Tide 33-12 on Friday night as they improved to 2-0 on the young season.
The road game was close in the first half with Tug Valley only leading 7-6 at halftime. But the Panthers scored 26 points in the second half, 13 in both the third and fourth quarters to pull away with the victory.
“We knew it was going to be a dog fight coming in. When Tug and Sherman play each other you can throw everything out the door because very seldom is there a blowout,” Tug Valley head coach Hady Ford said.
All-Stater Bryson Elia rushed for 236 yards and four touchdowns to lead the Panther’s offense. He carried the football 35 times as the workhorse out of the backfield for the TV coaching staff. Elia also caught five passes for 41 yards.
“Bryson had a great offensive game tonight. Several times he turns nothing into something. Once we got up in the fourth quarter, we knew we needed to just keep feeding him the ball,” coach Ford said about Elia.
Adam Slone toted the pigskin twice for 41 yards and a touchdown.
Placekicker Aiden Bosserman booted three extra points for TVHS.
Quarterback Preston May completed 12-22 passes for 111 yards and one interception.
Cameron Slone caught four passes for 41 yards, Derek Jewell caught a couple for 14 yards and Gavin Fitzpatrick hauled in one pass for a 17-yard gain.
On defense, Adam Slone led the way with eight tackles, and Marshall Jarvis and Cane Thompson each had five stops.
“Being 2-0 gives you a lot of momentum and confidence to start the season, especially with wins against quality opponents. Hopefully we can keep that trend going and just keep improving every week,” Ford concluded. “I am very proud of our team and the work they are putting in.”
Gerald Lester scored both TDs for Sherman, who dropped to 1-1 on the season.
The Class A Panthers went into the game ranked No. 3 in the state in the W.Va. Metro News Power Index. They were seventh last week. The WVSSAC points ratings do not come out until after the third week of regular season play.
Tug Valley hits the road again on Friday, Sept. 13 as the Panthers travel to Logan to take on the Wildcats.
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
Tug Valley: 0 7 13 13 – 33
Sherman: 0 6 0 6 – 12