FROSTBURG — Wheeling Central came out running the no-huddle offense, and with the help of Zach Hood and Marcus Clifford, got a quick lead on Mountain Ridge en route to a 34-10 win in high school football Friday night in Frostburg.
Clifford ran for 182 yards on 15 carries, and Hood added 109 yards on nine carries.
The Miners made a switch from the wishbone offense to the I-formation, and had some success.
Mountain Ridge was able to get a few first downs on most of its drives, but would then stall before being able to capitalize.
The Maroon Knights went straight to work on their first drive, eating up chunks of yardage using both running and passing plays. Quarterback Hood completed the 66-yard drive with a 9-yard run with 10:03 left in the first quarter.
The Miners struggled to get the initial first down on its opening drive, but fullback Drew Winters had a couple nice runs to get Mountain Ridge into Wheeling Central territory. The Miners would eventually slow down and be forced to give up the ball.
Hood picked up where he left off on the first drive, gaining 23 yards on the Knights’ first-down play. A 12-yard run got the ball to the Mountain Ridge 30, and Clifford finished the drive with a run of 33 yards. Clifford rushed for over 100 yards in the first quarter on nine touches.
The Miners drove to the Knights’ 15 yard line with 25 seconds left in the half. They settled for a 33-yard field goal by Cody Hovatter with five seconds left.
Clifford scored the first touchdown of the second half with a 29-yard run off tackle. The agile back made a few moves and cut back across to the field to take it in for six more points.
The Miners got to within striking distance on its next drive, but an offensive pass interference penalty put Mountain Ridge in a fourth-and-long and the ensuing snap was fumbled forcing the turnover on downs.
Quarterback Ryan Delaney finished with 75 yards on 17 carries as Mountain Ridge’s leading rusher.
The Miners (3-4) will host Southern on Friday.
Clear Spring 7
Bishop Walsh 6
CLEAR SPRING — Greg Hendershot’s two-point conversion pass fell incomplete, and Bishop Walsh was handed its third consecutive loss as Clear Spring held on to beat the Spartans.
The Blazers were the first to score when quarterback Sam Adams hit Wes Jackson for eight yards in the second quarter. Clear Spring was coming off a 51-0 win over Rappahannock, and has now won three in a row.
Bishop Walsh, playing without starting fullback and the area’s leader rusher Dylan D’Atri and starting quarterback Jared Mathews, couldn’t get to the end zone until the fourth quarter. Hendershot, a sophomore, hit freshman Quincy Redmon for 77 yards and the touchdown. BW went for two and Hendershot’s pass fell incomplete.
Hendershot finished 6-for-10 passing for 115 yards, getting half of the yards on the touchdown pass. Mickey Burkett and James Loffert led the defense, and Jamie Nolan added a interception.
Trey Walters was BW’s leading rusher with 72 yards on 10 carries.
Bishop Walsh (4-3) plays its final home game of the season next Saturday against Randolph-Macon.
Musselman 40
Hampshire 19
ROMNEY, W.Va. — Jesse Hanes scored four times and rushed for 82 yards on 15 carries to help send Musselman over Hampshire.
Hanes scored on runs of one, four and five yards, and was on the receiving end of a 30-yard touchdown pass. Quarterback Brandon Michael had the scoring pass to Hanes, and also had a 5-yard TD run.
Phil Malick had a pair of touchdown passes for the Trojans. He first connected with Caleb Hill for a 5-yard pass, and then found Brent Walter for a 40-yard score as time expired in the fourth.
Walter scored the other Hampshire touchdown on an 87-yard kickoff return in the second quarter.
The Applemen won the total yards battle 391-244, and outrushed the Trojans 235-110.
Hampshire has dropped four straight since starting the season 3-0. The Trojans play at Hedgesville on Friday. Musselman has won four straight since beginning 0-3 and will host Keyser on Friday.
High School Football
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John A. Bone/Times-News
Wheeling Central dumps Mtn. Ridge; BW loses 7-6
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Petersburg loses a wild one, 29-27
