By Dave Helmick
TuckerCountySports.Com
PARSONS – The Mt. Lions Football team opened the season Friday August 26th at home against Pocahontas County. Tucker County used a strong passing attack to surge ahead in the first half and then the Mt. Lions pulled away for good in the fourth to win the game over Pocahontas County 34-12.
The Mt. Lions started the scoring early as they forced a fumble on the Warriors first play and Tucker County’s Trenton Wilfong recovered the fumble to give the Mt. Lions the ball at the Pocahontas County 23 yard line. Two plays later Ethan Rosenau connected with Wilfong on a pass across the middle and Wilfong raced 23 yards for a touchdown. The 2 point conversion failed to make the score 6-0 Tucker County with 11:06 left in the first quarter. After a Warriors punt the Mt. Lions took over at their own 20. Then Rosenau connected with his quick receiver Maddox Anderson on a 79 yard touchdown pass and the PAT failed to give the Mt. Lion a 12-0 lead with 6:17 left in the first. Pocahontas County got on the scoreboard late in the first quarter as they blocked a Tucker County punt and the ball rolled into the endzone. The Warriors recovered the ball for a touchdown with 37 seconds left in the first. The extra point kick was blocked to make the score 12-6 Tucker County at the end of the first quarter.
The second quarter belonged to the Mt. Lions as Anderson intercepted a Pocahontas County pass to give Tucker County the ball back. Tucker County then scored on a 2 yard touchdown run by Jared Reall. The 2 point conversion was good on a pass to Levi Bennett to push the lead to 20-6 with 8:20 left in the second. The Mt. Lions defense forced another punt and the Tucker County offense took over at their own 42 yard line. Then three plays later the Mt. Lions completed another big play as Rosenau connected with Anderson on a 60 yard touchdown pass. The PAT was good on a run by Blaike Adams to make the score 28-6 Tucker County with 4:36 left in the second. The second quarter ended with the halftime score 28-6 Mt. Lions.
After a scoreless third quarter Pocahontas County recovered a Tucker County fumble and put together a good drive. That drive was capped with a 2 yard touchdown run with 9:18 left in the contest. The PAT failed to cut the Tucker County lead to 28-12. The Mt. Lions then turned the ball over again on an interception by the Warriors. The visiting team could not capitalize as Pocahontas County would turn the ball back over to Tucker County as Wilfong intercepted the Warriors pass. The Mt. Lions then drove the ball 85 yards for a score. Adams got the touchdown for Tucker County on a 25 yard run with 3:38 left in the game. The PAT failed to put the Tucker County lead to 34-12. The game would end with the same score as the Mt. Lions picked up the home victory by the final score of 34-12.
Ethan Rosenau led Tucker County with 16 of 25 passing for 318 yards passing. Maddox Anderson had 4 receptions for 169 yards receiving and Trenton Wilfong added 4 receptions for 96 yards receiving. Blaike Adams led the Mt. Lions in rushing with 10 carries for 50 yards and Will McCallister chipped in with 5 receptions for 39 yards. McCallister also collected an interception on defense in the third quarter.
Tucker County(1-0) will travel to Tygarts Valley on Friday September 2nd for a 7pm kickoff. The game will be broadcast on WELK 94.7FM or online at 947welk.com. For more info go to TuckerCountySports.Com.
Picture Captions:
IMG_ 0047– Tucker County’s Quarterback Ethan Rosenau waits on a snap against Pocahontas County on Aug. 26th. The Mt. Lions won the contest 34-12. Photo by Brittany Channell.
IMG_0145 – Will McCallister of Tucker County stiff arms a defender against Pocahontas County on Aug. 26th. Tucker County won the game 34-12. Photo by Brittany Channell.