By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Win achieved. The Cougars shook the monkey off their back collecting the first win of the season with a 46-19 rout over Southern Garrett.
East Hardy (1-3) started the game on its own 14-yard line with Garrett Van Meter rushing twice for a total of 14 yards to move the chains at the 28-yard line.
Dayton Dove was wide open for the Cougars making a catch on a throw from quarterback Trevor Roof and dashed into Rams territory on the 28-yard play arriving at the 44-yard line.
After a sack by Southern Garrett’s Karmen Holland, Roof was called for intentional grounding on a scrambling pass not going past the line of scrimmage.
There was a fumble on a super long third down resulting in a punt with Mason Wilkins making a slamming tackle at the 24-yard line.
Southern Garrett’s Pierce Ramos rushed for four yards, then quarterback Jacob Brown was met by a pride of Cougars on what appeared to be a short gain which developed into a first down at the 45-yard line due to a personal foul face mask.
Ramos reached midfield was stopped by Wilkins.
The Rams (1-3) collected a first down at the 44-yard line on a carry by Hayden Williams, then the Cougars defense clamped down as Nick Roomsburg and Nehemiah Graham made a tackle for loss.
East Hardy’s Korbin Miller had his helmet fly off during a tackle for no gain.
Bradley Kidwell, Bodie Brill and Miller stuffed the ensuing play and Levi Price made a tackle loss at midfield forcing a Rams punt.
There was a penalty on the punt and Southern Garrett punted again, but this time Levi Price found daylight zig-zagging 81 yards for the punt return touchdown and made the extra point kick giving the Cougars a 7-nil edge with 4:23 left in the opening frame.
After a touchback from Price, the Rams collected a first down on a 12-yard keeper by Brown.
Ramos converted third down at the 44-yard line, then East Hardy’s Micah Ludwig made a sack.
Southern Garrett converted another third down on a 13-yard catch to the Cougars 40-yard line as the quarter was coming to an end.
Brown collected a first down on an 11-yard run, then a face mask on the next play moved the ball to the edge of the red zone.
Two plays later, Brown recorded a 15-yard touchdown run and the kick tied the game with 10:39 remaining in the second quarter.
The Cougars went three and out with a punt.
Two big hits by Roomsburg including a body slam along with a sack by Price led to a Rams punt.
A nifty spinning play by Roof was negated on a penalty, then the Cougars reached the Rams 27-yard line on a leaping catch by Khristian Bauserman covering 33 yards.
The drive stalled and the Cougars missed a field goal.
East Hardy’s defense forced a punt and the return was to the Rams 35-yard line.
Price caught a pass for 30 yards and the quick drive was capped off on a five yard touchdown catch by Mason Wilkins.
Southern Garrett punted again with 45 seconds remaining in the first half, then Roof threw an interception with Dove forcing a fumble during the return.
Van Meter caught a 25-yard touchdown pass with four seconds left for a 19-7 halftime lead.
East Hardy found better rhythm in the second half building a 33-13 advantage entering the final stanza en route to a 46-19 win.
A couple highlight reel moments in the second half included Roof executing a 48-yard touchdown pass and the Cougars created havoc with a 75-yard pick six by Wilkins (interception return for touchdown).
East Hardy had 305 total yards with 261 coming in the air, while the Rams had 266 total yards.
The Cougars travel to Summers County this Friday.
