The Trojans couldn’t catch a cold in the first quarter, then snapped out of the funk to smite the Yellow Jackets 33-14 in Moorefield on Friday night.
“I am very proud of these guys. I am really impressed with how they persevered from last week’s loss and didn’t let it get into their heads and affect this game. We just need to catch some more balls, but we had fun out there. Our boys did a heck of a job defensively, especially with that fourth down goal line stop. We just had to calm down and knew we would get open and be aggressive passing. Andrew Loy and Roscoe Dean are two of our top athletes and they always do a good job on game night. Roscoe had a chip on his shoulder from Moorefield, so it was good to get him back playing and give him the ball. Andrew did a great job and would have gotten 300 yards receiving if not for those missed catches. It is always fun coming back to Moorefield and being able to get a win on their field, especially since I played at East Hardy. They are rivals, but it was good to see old buddies here and always good to get the W,” Hampshire coach Donny Evans commented.
A pre-game tailgate celebration in the town park carried good vibes over to Yellow Jacket Field.
Moorefield reminisced about the good old days by honoring alumni at halftime as the bands performed on the field.
Hampshire’s Roscoe Dean, a former Moorefield student, picked up a first down on the initial play of the game covering ten yards on the gridiron coming after the opening kickoff touchback.
Andrew Loy was forced out of bounds by Moorefield’s Edison Metheny on a catch, but there was an illegal forward pass and another attempt to corral a pass was thwarted on a crashing hit by Shawn Reed.
A third pass went awry as Hampshire punted on a drive lasting just 38 seconds.
However, the Yellow Jackets fumbled the ball back to the Trojans on their first play which was recovered by Blane Billmeyer.
Hampshire’s offense came back at 11:08 at the Moorefield 41 with a fumble and penalty.
Landon Eversole picked up three yards and was brought down by Davin Abreu.
Moorefield’s Daltan Ault and Oliver Crites teamed up for a sack, then the ensuing pass was dropped.
The Trojans tried a fake punt on 4th-and-25 and the pass was off the mark.
Th Yellow Jackets started just beyond midfield, but failed to generate a first down on three short runs by Crites, Reed and Bill Lewis ending in a punt at 7:18.
The Trojans started inside their own 20-yard line with a couple runs by Dean to move the chains and a 23-yard catch by Loy earned a first down in Moorefield territory.
Loy snatched the ball diving out of bounds for a first down at the 35.
Hampshire dropped the next three passes and a fourth down attempt sailed overhead in the end zone for a turnover on downs.
A huge run by Moorefield’s Cyrus Kump after a fake handoff was negated on a penalty
Mathew Iman collected a pass from Kump and muscled ahead for 19 yards entering Trojans domain for a first down at the 44.
Reed caught a pass for seven yards, then a hard count drew the defense offsides for a first down.
On second down, a potential reception by Lewis was bobbled and swiped for an interception by Hampshire’s Brent Evans and returned for a pick six touchdown and the extra point was blocked by Thomas Simmons for a 6-0 score with under a minute remaining in the first frame.
Moorefield’s Hector Luna-Davy made a big kickoff return to the 35.
Kump and Crites alternated runs to close the first quarter, but Moorefield would fail to reach the marker to begin the second quarter and punted.
Hampshire’s Matthew Medina was wide open for a catch and dashed 36 yards before being tracked down by Crites and Iman at the Yellow Jackets 25.
Moorefield’s Zeke Eye garnered a sack for a 15-yard loss.
Hampshire countered as Eversole found Dean for a 32-yard reception deep inside the red zone.
Dean was stopped at the two yard line before a defensive penalty cut the distance in half and Eversole capped off the drive finding pay dirt and the conversion was dropped for a 12-0 lead at 9:10.
Moorefield’s Zakk Keplinger created a huge return getting to the 43-yard line and pumped up the crowd.
Iman notched three yards, then Crites tripped gaining two more yards prior to powering ahead for 18 yards and first down at the Hampshire 34.
Kump collected nine yards and Crites continued the momentum plowing forward into the red zone for ten yards reaching the 15.
Two carries by Kump brought the Yellow Jackets down to the eight yard line.
Crites finished off the series with an eight yard touchdown run and Kump added the conversion to cut the deficit to 12-8 with 4:56 left in the half.
A swarm of Yellow Jackets stopped Dean on a short gain, then he fumbled the ball and Eversole recovered it.
Eversole managed to collect three yards and was stopped by Iman before the Trojans punted.
Iman buzzed from the 22-yard line all the way down to the goal line being thwarted by Ayden Blomquist, but that electrifying play was negated on a penalty.
Moorefield was backed up to the 12 and fumbled for a five yard loss, the Iman rush for a dozen yards before an errant pass led to a punt with one minute and change to go.
Hampshire started the ensuing possession at its own 35 and two catches by Loy placed the Trojans at the Moorefield 29-yard line with time to spare.
Dean caught a pass to reach the red zone as the Trojans looked to strike before the close of the half.
Eversole connected with Loy for a 15-yard touchdown and Della Knight added the extra point kick for a 19-8 advantage.
“We had too many mistakes across the board. It was special teams, offense and defense. I hate to keep beating a dog on this one, but we had six freshmen on the field and we were missing our starting quarterback and starting tailback. Every time I turned around, somebody was lost and it is a lot to ask of these young guys. It will help in the future, but we need help right now. We were definitely stronger than the other team and it showed when we lined up and were pounding it down, but we make it all the way down the field and make a mistake whether it was a penalty or turnover. I don’t consider them [Hampshire] a rival, but I played against Donny in high school and he is a great coach. We have a very good relationship and the same with several players on Hampshire. I coached Roscoe Dean in middle school and he did a great job tonight. Those boys are tough,” Moorefield coach Eric Linville stated.
A pass ricocheted off a Moorefield receiver and intercepted by Hampshire’s Jacob Ault to end the half.
The Yellow Jackets commenced the second half burning nearly seven minutes off the clock with the ground game starting at their own 25-yard line and utilized 15 plays getting into the red zone before a turnover on downs.
It was a methodical drive with first downs gathered by Iman and Crites moving the chains.
One of the highlights was a 20-yard run by Cittes to get to the Hamosiure 25-yard line.
Iman added two yards and got his helmet interlocked with Hampshire’s Chrystian Helmick on the tackle.
Kump dashed around the corner to gather a first down at the 13-yard line for the Yellow Jackets in the red zone, then two personal fouls would back them to the 41.
Kump was able to use his legs to return to the red zone, but Moorefield couldn’t advance to the marker again for a turnover on downs.
Moorefield’s Daltan Ault made a tackle for loss at the 15 as the crowd went wild.
However, Hampshire responded with an 85-yard touchdown catch by Loy and Knight added the kick to extend the Trojans lead to 26-8 at 4:18.
The Yellow Jackets went three and out punting away with 2:44 left in the third quarter.
The Trojans stated near midfield with Dean rushing 11 yard for a first down in Moorefield territory.
After an errant pass and penalty, Hampshire was backed up to midfield again.
Moorefield’s Gage Wolfe notched a tackle for loss and Abeu recorded a sack pushing Hampshire back to the 44.
An incompletion and false start led to a Trojans punt with a fair catch ignored as the defender rammed into the returner setting up Moorefield possession at the 41-yard line with 44 ticks to go in the frame.
After an errant pass, a bad snap resulted in a fumble with the Trojans recovering at the 30-yard line.
Two plays later, Hampshire’s Loy caught a 16-yard pass and Knight made the kick to create a 33-8 advantage with seven seconds remaining in the third quarter.
Crites plowed ahead 19 yards as Moorefield arrived in Trojans territory at the 35.
Iman rush for nine yards, then Crites picked up a first down on a five yard carry.
Iman garnered six yards to get into the red zone prior to a sack by the Trojans.
Crites converted the third down with a 20-yard touchdown run to cut the deficit to 33-14 at 8:44.
The Yellow Jackets recovered the onside kick as Simmons jumped up with the ball on the 48.
Kump dodged tackles on a ten yard keeper entering Hampshire domain again.
Crites punched through for seven yards, then Iman dashed to 23 yards and was stopped by Medina on the seven yard line.
The Yellow Jackets got down to the two yard line with runs by Iman and Crites, but the Trojans made a goal line stand preventing a touchdown for a turnover on downs with five minutes to go.
The Yellow Jacket made a stop for no gain at the one yard line, but the Trojans got breating room on a catch by Loy spanning 25 yards with a shove out of play by Iman.
Moorefield’s Brady Vetter made a slamming tackle and another for a loss in the closing minutes.
Hampshire managed to convert a third down and ran the clock out to earn the 33-14 win.
The Yellow Jackets fell to 0-3 and will host Strasburg on Friday, while the Trojans improved to 2-1 and hosts Grafton.
