From Staff Reports
KEYSER, W.Va. — David Echartea scored three touchdowns and ran for 194 yards on only 11 carries as fourth-ranked Keyser closed the regular season with a 41-14 romp over Mountain Ridge on Senior Night Friday at Alumni Stadium.
The win sends the Golden Tornado into the Class AA playoffs with a 7-3 record. The first-round site and playoff opponent have yet to be determined.
Mountain Ridge finished the season 4-6.
The Miners dominated in time of possession, especially in the first half, but fell victim to the big play as the Tornado built a 21-0 halftime lead.
Jarell Ross returned an early Mountain Ridge punt 70 yards for a touchdown for the first score only three minutes into the game.
The Miners marched 70 yards, from their own 10 to the Tornado 20, but an intentional grounding penalty on a third-and-9 ended a nearly 9-minute possession.
On the very next play, Echartea broke loose and dashed 91 yards for a touchdown that gave Keyser a 14-0 lead.
Echartea scored later in the half on a 2-yard run to make it 21-0 at the half.
The Tornado picked up where it left off in the second half, taking the kickoff and marching 62 yards in 10 plays, with Echartea scoring again, on a 3-yard run, to make it 28-0 with 7:11 on the clock.
The Miners lost a fumble two plays later, and Tyler Biser hit Kadeem Garland on a 23-yard touchdown pass, boosting the margin to 35-0 with 6:20 to go in the third.
R.C. Pratt scored on a 15-yard run on the first play of the fourth quarter to complete the Keyser scoring.
Austin Teets got Mountain Ridge on the board with a 9-yard touchdown run with 2:06 remaining.
The Miners recovered a fumble on Keyser’s next play from scrimmage, and scored again on a 7-yard run by Ryan Delaney with 54 seconds to go.
Jarod Harper led Mountain Ridge with 19 carries for 70 yards. Delaney added 77 yards on seven carries.
