CHARMCO – Greenbrier West scored early and often in an abbreviated contest Friday night. The Cavaliers exceeded their scoring average in a little over a quarter before play was stopped due to lightning. The Cavaliers defeated the depleted Pocahontas County Warriors squad 48-0 in a game that was called official at 8:55 P.M. due to continued lightning.
West quickly got on the scoreboard when Cole Vandall connected with Tucker Lilly for a 50-yard touchdown pass. Lilly lined up in the left slot and simply ran past the Pocahontas County defenders, taking Vandall’s throw at the Warrior 31 and outracing three Pocahontas defenders for the score. The quick strike would become a theme for the game in more ways than one. Scoring on their fourth play from scrimmage, West would take a 7-0 lead after Hayden Ridgeways’ PAT with only 1:01 elapsed in the game.
The Cavalier defense forced a three-and-out on the first Warrior possession of the night. After a wildly entertaining punt return by Jake Pate, Isaac Agee appeared to give West a two-touchdown lead on the Cavaliers’ first play. A penalty flag cost West the score, but the Cavaliers would make short order of the Warriors once again. Four running plays set up the game’s second score. Tucker Lilly lofted a 16-yard scoring toss to Marcus Adkins in the back of the endzone. Ridgeway nailed the extra point for a 14-0 lead with 7:31 to go in the opening quarter.
The Warriors next drive would prove to be disastrous. Facing a fourth and seven at their own 33-yard line, the Warriors tried to execute a fake punt. Haydon Moore took the snap and started to his left as if to punt, only to pull the ball back and try the right edge of the Cavalier punt coverage. Lilly held his ground from his cornerback position and kept Moore hemmed in. Ethan Holliday flew in to support the stop with an assist from Jacob Nutter. The risk came without reward for Pocahontas County, giving the Cavaliers a first down at the Warrior 35.
The West offense wasted no time. Vandall zipped a slip screen to the right side to Colten Dunbar. Dunbar got a nice downfield block from Trent Parker, springing him for a gain of 16 yards. The Cavaliers dialed up the same play again, but this time Vandall swung the ball to Holliday on the left side. Daron Vaughan and Lilly were in the convoy this time, and Holliday looped to the sideline for a 24-yard touchdown catch. The extra point kick was wide right, but West had quickly built a 20-0 advantage with 5:43 left in the first quarter.
A little over halfway through the first quarter, Pocahontas County was desperate to generate some kind of offense. The Warriors earned their initial first down of the night on a keeper from quarterback Logan Keatley. Two Warrior runs produced negative yardage, placing Pocahontas County in a third-and-16 situation. Keatley lined up in shotgun formation and received the snap. Bobbling the ball as he looked downfield, Keatley was forced to release the ball under heavy pressure from Nutter and senior defensive tackle Daron Vaughan. Keatley lobbed the ball into Cavalier territory. Three Cavaliers were waiting as the ball descended. Pate settled under the ball at the Cavalier 48-yard line. Pate cut to his left and followed Holliday into Warrior territory. Holliday delivered a crushing block at the 20-yard line. Pate cut to the inside and slipped through the tackle of Caleb Ritter. From there, it was clear sailing for Pate. The 52-yard interception return for a touchdown was followed by a Ridgeway PAT at the 2:35 mark of the first quarter for a 27-0 West lead.
Pocahontas County was reeling at this point. Their next drive, however, started in Cavalier territory after a squibbed kick was recovered at the 49-yard line. The West defense handled matters, though, and Pocahontas County lined up to punt the ball away after only three plays. The Cavaliers’ special teams would come up big on fourth down. Vandall burst off the right edge and into the face of Moore. Moore slipped the tackle back at the Warrior 39-yard line, but Vandall had backup on the way. Colten Dunbar and Vaughan both made diving attempts at Moore before Agee and Lilly finished him off at the 35-yard line.
This time, West would waste no time adding a score. Lilly took a shotgun snap and tossed the ball to the left to Agee. Agee raced around the edge and gave Morgan Beverage a head fake at the 25-yard line, sending him into the endzone untouched for the score. Ridgeway’s chip shot increased the Cavalier lead to 34 with 0:49 remaining in the opening quarter. Little did anyone know there was short time left in the game.
Ridgeway’s kickoff squirted past Moore on the kickoff, forcing him to retreat and scoop up the live ball at the Warrior two-yard line. Holliday was in hot pursuit and nailed Moore at the 4-yard line. After a sneak for no gain, both teams paused as the first quarter came to a close. When play resumed, Keatley connected with wideout Nathaniel Wimer for a gain of 14 and a first down. Keatley’s next attempt would not be as successful for the Warriors.
Dunbar burst off his left end position and forced Keatley to get rid of the football. This time, there were five Cavaliers waiting for the ball to come down. Agee launched himself in front of the receiver and picked the ball out of the air at the 30-yard line. Agee brought the ball back to the 20-yard line then cut hard to the right. From there, Agee sprinted past everyone for the second interception return for a touchdown of the game. Agee split the uprights and West had things well under control at 41-0 with 11:26 to go until halftime.
The West defense would once again impose its will on the Warriors. After forcing another three-and-out, the Cavaliers were hopeful they’d get good field position for their next drive. Moore, however, had time to boot the ball away when West decided to set up a return rather than force the issue on the kick. Moore delivered a 49-yard punt that rolled dead at the Cavalier 18-yard line.
With their worst starting spot of the night, the Cavaliers would barely blink before lightning struck. Pate went left to right and cut inside the trap block of Jacob Whitt and bolted into the secondary. A diving attempt by Moore at Pate’s feet momentarily slowed the run, but that was it. Pate hit the West sideline and cruised into the endzone for an electrifying 82-yard touchdown run. Ridgeway tacked on the extra point for a 48-0 bulge with 8:58 left in the first half, at least that’s what everyone believed at the moment.
Pocahontas County would run one play following the kickoff before officials sent both teams to their locker rooms following a lightning strike. The stoppage came at 7:59 PM with 8:42 left in the first half. Each subsequent strike of lighting reset the delay for another 30 minutes. At 8:55 P.M., coaches from both teams met with the game officials and agreed to end the game.
The Cavaliers improved their record to 3-0 and will travel to Buffalo on Friday at 7 P.M. Pocahontas County dropped to 0-3 and will return home to host Richwood.
Tucker Lilly was selected to be the Rock 95 McDonald’s Player of the Game by the broadcast crew. Lilly was 1-2 passing for 16 yards and a touchdown, had one reception for 50 yards and a touchdown, and one carry for 24 yards. Lilly also had 2 tackles, 3 assists, and one pass defended.
This page is available to subscribers. Click here to sign in or get access.