By Carl Holcomb
Moorefield Examiner
Grayson Lambka was the field general accounting for three scores and two turnovers leading the Golden Tornado to a 55-21 shellacking of the Yellow Jackets on military appreciation night in Keyser.
Five minutes into the game, Lambka scored a rushing touchdown in the red zone for a 7-nil edge (kick good).
“We tailed al week about coming out with high intensity and doing the little things like we always do. I didn’t think we executed all that well last week and this week we came out and executed a lot better this week. I thought I knew how they would respond and did what I thought they would,” Keyser coach Derek Stephen stated.
“These seniors even from the summer time, they have brought a different mentality and focus to the team. It doesn’t matter which one we call on, because they all are going to step up and do what they have to do. We have a bunch of them who can step into that role of leadership.We try to play as fast as the referees will let us. We want to control the tempo. It is great when you have somebody like Grayson who can return kicks, catch the ball and run. It makes my coaching job a little easier.”
Both teams struggled on the ensuing drives with back-to-back turnovers on downs with the latter on a fourth down pass rush by Moorefield’s Brady Vetter forcing an incompletion.
The Yellow Jackets found an opening on the third play of the next possession as Shawn Reed raced 51 yards for a touchdown at the 2:08 mark and the kick was good by Levi Davis tying the game at 7-all.
The Golden Tornado whirled in response as Lambka ignited for a 97-yard kickoff return for a touchdown to regain the lead, 13-7 at 1:55.
Moorefield’s Mathew Iman converted a fourth down to begin the second quarter at the 36-yard line.
The Yellow Jackets gained a couple yards prior to a personal foul resulting in a punt.
Keyser began the following series at midfield on a fair catch, then a third down conversion by Lambka moved the chains inside the ten yard line on a 35 yard gain with a tackle by Blake Snyder.
Lambka was stopped just shy of the goal line by Daltan Ault, but the Golden Tornado’s Owen Rotruck punched the ball into pay dirt on the next carry and the kick created a 20-7 lead with 8:47 remaining in the half.
After a Moorefield punt, Keyser utilized four plays to score a touchdown on a 55-yard toss from Addison Brafford to Dominik Crawford in empty space and the kick made it 27-7 at 5:13.
The Yellow Jackets started at their own 15-yard line after a fumbled kickoff and quarterback Brock Linville’s pass was intercepted on a leap by Lambka.
Brafford connected on a 24-yard touchdown strike to Lucas Williamson, who hauled in the pass under tight coverage and the kick extended the lead to 34-7 at 4:54.
Moorefield’s Iman and Oliver Crites alternated carries for a first down with the latter carry plowing for a first down at the 44.
Linville attempted to snatch a first down and an illegal shift was called, then Iman leapt over a defender for a first down at the 46.
The drive stalled with two short runs and two incompletions for a turnover on downs as Keyser took possession at the 42 with 31 seconds to go.
However, the Golden Tornado fumbled and Blake Robinette recovered for the Yellow Jackets at the 39 with 26 seconds left before intermission.
Linville handed off to Reed, who got a pass when being rocked and the ball was caught by Ault.
A face mask penalty ding a play by Reed helped Moorefield move down to the 27 with four seconds remaining and Davis had the distance on a 45-yard field goal attempt, but it was wide left.
The Yellow Jackets methodically worked the ball down the field to commence the third quarter with runs by Iman, Linville and Crites.
Iman collected first down deep in the red zone on a 14-yard run.
Runs by Crites and Iman got the Yellow Jackets inside the five yard line.
Moorefield garnered a three yard touchdown run by Iman and Davis added the kick to cut the deficit to 34-14 at 6:25.
Keyser needed seven plays to respond as Brafford converted a fourth down, scoring on a 34-yard keeper and the kick created a 41-14 advantage with 4:28 to go in the third frame.
Crites lost his helmet on a third down play on the 39, then Iman was stopped shy of the first down marker as Keyser took over at the 40.
Brafford dashed 35 yards for a first down at the 5-yard line and two plays later, Cole Holland netted a two yard touchdown and the kick increased the Golden Tornado lead to 48-14 at 1:36.
Moorefield looked to get some momentum as Crites plowed ahead on two carries for a first down into Keyser territory and Iman raced 16 yards to move the chains at the end of the third quarter on the 31.
Crites added six yards and Iman gathered another first Dijon in the red zone.
Crites notched three yards, then Iman moved the chains at the five.
Iman was stopped shy of the goal line by Holland, then Crites was tackled for a loss by Rotruck.
The Yellow Jackets refused to be denied pay dirt as Iman found a seam thanks to the offensive line for a two yard touchdown run with 8:23 left in the final stanza and Davis added the kick for a 48-21 score.
Keyser marched from midfield in seven plays for a seven yard touchdown reception by Lambka and the kick created the final score of 55-21 with 6:13 to go.
The Yellow Jackets got a couple huge plays from Crites and Iman getting into Keyser territory before a fumble recovered by Lambka on the 31.
The Yellow Jackets defense forced a three and out punt, but the Yellow Jackets would fumble again three plays later with a recovery by Holland as the Golden Tornado closed the game with a victory formation kneel down for the 55-21 win.
“Keyser is good, it’s a triple A squad. We came in and at times we looked really good and times we looked really bad.[Seniors] They know they have 12 quarters of football left to play in their careers and now it is eight. Oliver has been hurt and we know he is hurt, but you wouldn’t know it by his play. He comes out every time and gives it everything he’s got. We started a freshman at tailback and I thought he ran well. Brock led the offense. We moved the ball, but we made critical mistakes at times. It is frustrating. These are mistakes we haven’t done all week. It was little things like kicking the ball out of play. We did well in the third quarter during the clock, then they would score in just two plays. We controlled the game when we had the ball. Keyser is tough,” Moorefield coach Eric Linville commented.
Moorefield and Keyser teams met at midfield to have a postgame prayer together.
Moorefield hosts Pendleton County on Halloween for senior night.
