BY KYLE LOVERN
MOUNTAIN CITIZEN
NAUGATUCK, W.Va. — The Tug Valley Panthers were clawed by the Class AA Logan Wildcats 27-12 Friday night at Bob Brewer Stadium in Naugatuck.
Tug Valley came into the game rated No. 5 in the MetroNews Power Index in Class A in West Virginia.
The Panthers are now 1-2 and have already lost more games this season than they did all of last year. Tug Valley finished the regular season in 2024 with a perfect 10-0 record and did not lose until the state semi-finals of the playoffs.
The Panthers got a very bad break early in the game when star All-State tailback and defensive back Bryson Elia injured himself on a long run. He had to leave the game for precautionary reasons. The word was that he tweaked his hamstring and is day-to-day.
TVHS Coach Hady Ford confirmed the injury, “Bryson tweaked his hamstring. It wasn’t worth the risk of causing further damage so he didn’t come back.”
The first half was a hard-hitting defensive battle between the southern West Virginia schools. Tug Valley led 6-0 after one quarter as quarterback Preston May hit wideout Derek Jewell for a 10-yard touchdown pass. The conversion failed, but TV had an early lead.
However, Logan scored a pair of touchdowns in the second quarter and kicked a couple of extra points to take a 14-6 lead heading into the dressing room at the half.
Logan led 27-6 after three quarters thanks to an outstanding TD run by Lucas Lambert. He reversed his field and broke loose for an 85-yard score. That touchdown at that point in the game probably was the final nail in the coffin for Tug Valley in the contest.
“This is definitely not where we wanted to be. We knew it would be a tough start. We’ve had a few get injured and that’s been tough for us to get everything going the way we would like,” Coach Ford added.
“We just have to keep our heads up and continue to get better every week. We didn’t get the outcome we wanted but all we can do now is get ready for the next one.”
Logan tallied 342 yards of total offense led by Lambert and Colten Green. Lambert rushed only 3 times for 98 yards and a TD. He also had a receiving touchdown. Green rushed for a 14-yard score and caught four passes for 60 yards and another TD.
Wildcats quarterback Adam Baisden completed 11-19 passes for 183 yards and a pair of TDs.
Braxton Wolford led Logan on defense with nine tackles.
Tug Valley had 285 yards of total offense.
May was 28-52 passing for 228 yards and two TDs.
Jewell caught 11 passes for 104 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Cam Slone hauled in 11 passes for 88 yards.
Without Elia, the Panthers did not have much of a rushing attack. Elia had two carries for 27 yards before leaving the game with his leg injury. May rushed 8 times for 31 yards.
Cane Thompson led TVHS on defense with eight tackles.
Both teams were flagged for several penalties.
“We just need to continue to get better every week. When the playoffs come we want to be playing our best football,” Ford concluded.
Tug Valley (1-2) will host Wyoming East (0-3) on Friday night for its next game.
Logan (3-0) will entertain Wayne on Friday. Wayne lost to Mingo Central this past week.
Score by quarters:
Logan: 0 14 13 0 – 27
Tug: 6 0 0 6 – 12