Steve Luse
SHORT GAP, W.Va. — The Frankfort offense came up with some big plays in building a 22-point lead, but the Falcons needed a game-saving stop by Dylan Wagoner on a two-point converson in the closing minutes to preserve a 35-33 victory over Hampshire in the regular-season finale for both teams on a chilly Friday night at Frankfort Stadium.
The win sends Frankfort into the West Virginia Class AA playoffs for the first time in five years with a 9-1 record and the Falcons could be seeded fourth or fifth depending on the outcome of some other Friday night games. Hampshire went into the game with a shot of possibly making the Class AAA playoffs and finishes with a 5-5 record.
Senior quarterback James Jones completed 10-of-15 psasses for 187 yards and a pair of touchdowns, while Jeremy Miltenberger rushed for 112 yards on 12 carries and scored two touchdowns to lead the Frankfort offense. Logan Wolford hauled in a 63-yard scoring strike and also kicked all five extra points. Zack Nierberlein caught a 19-yard touchdown pass and Joey Luciw went 34 yards on a reverse for the other six points.
Frankfort finished with 455 yards in total offense with 268 coming on 45 rushing attempts. But the Falcons gave away a couple of scoring opportunities with fumbles and had 10 penalties for 72 yards.
Not wanting to go down without a fight, Hampshire had 390 yards in total offense and didn’t have any turnovers. Blake Saville rushed for 70 yards on eight carries and had a pair of four-yard touchdown runs. Brett Walter had scoring runs of five and four yards and finished with 66 yards on 11 carries. Steven Wilson had a team-high 78 yards on 124 attempts and scored the final TD with a 7-yard run. He also ran for a two-point conversion. Senior quarterback Phillip Malick completed 6 of 15 passes for 106 yards.
“Our players showed no emotion and it was ugly, but we got the win,” said Frankfort coach Kevin Whilteman. “It was definitely not what I wanted in the final game before the playoffs. We weren’t focused and had too many penalties and mental mistakes. But we’re 9-1 and going to the playoffs for the first time in five years.”
Frankfort got the opening kickoff and marched 65 yards on 10 plays and Miltenberger scored the first touchdown on a three-yard run at the 7:44 mark. He set up the score with a 20-yard run.
Hampshire tied the game with Saville’s five-yard run on the first play of the second quarter and Caleb Hill’s kick.
Jones then found Nieberlein on a 44-yard pass before hitting his tight end on the 19-yard scoring strike at the 9:07 mark in the second quarter. With 6:51 left in the half, connected with Wolford who was wide open at about the 25-yard line on the 63-yard touchdown play.
Hampshire answered with a 49-yard drive after a 37-yard kickoff return by Walker, who scored from the five with only 1:13 left in the half. Wagoner and Brian Bills then came up with what proved to be a crucial block punt that had the Falcons leading 21-13 at the Break.
Frankfort pushed the lead to 22 points in the third quarter on a Luciw crowd-thrilling 34-yard reverse at the 4:12 mark on a five-yard run by Miltenberger with one-minute left in the period.
Hampshire started the fourth quarter comeback with a four-yard run by Walter with 11:28 left, but a pass for two points failed. The Trojans kept their hopes alive on Saville’s four-yard run with 5:58 still on the clock.
Andy Sions then recovered a Frankfort fumble to halt a drive at the Hampshire 30-yard line. On a fourth-and-two play, Malick teamed with Walter on a pass play that covered 53 yards in the Falcons’ seven-yard line. On the next play, Wilson went in with 1:32 remaining.
Having success getting outside, the Trojans then went with a pitch to Walter for the two points and he was nailed by Wagoner who smelled out the play at the two.
Frankfort then covered the onside kick and ran out the clock.
