MILL CREEK, W.Va. — All 48 minutes were needed to settle the score between Richwood and Tygarts Valley Thursday evening at Bulldog Field. A 2-point conversion stop with time expired lifted the Bulldogs to a 35-33 win over the Lumberjacks.
Richwood junior quarterback Caleb Jantuah found Michael McGee on a 26-yard touchdown pass on the final play of regulation to pull the Lumberjacks within two points. But the Tygarts Valley defense held Jantuah out of the end zone on the 2-point try, giving the Bulldogs their fifth consecutive victory to open up the season.
“I lost two years of my life in that game,” said Tygarts Valley head coach Rodney Bright. “We just ran our goal line defense. We got the guys fired up. I think they went to the well one too many times. We had it figured out and finally stopped it.”
Tygarts Valley jumped out to a 21-14 halftime lead on the strength of a pair of touchdown runs from Caden Boggs and another touchdown tote from Daniel White.
“Richwood was big up front but we were still spotty with our blocking. Some plays went really well.”
McGee scored on a 20-yard run in the final minute of the third quarter to tie the score at 21-21. Tygarts Valley retook the lead early in the fourth quarter when Brandon Bennett rushed straight ahead for an 8-yard score, giving the Bulldogs a 29-21 lead. Richwood responded as Jantuah scored on a 12-yard run.
TVHS drove the length of the field and junior quarterback Joshua Bright scampered six yards for a touchdown, giving the Bulldogs a 35-27 lead with three minutes remaining.
“I hate to brag on my son but that was a great run to extend out lead down there and I am really proud of him.”
The Bulldogs, who are ranked #4 in the SSAC ratings, are off to their best start since 1989. Bright believes his team still has room for improvement in the second half of the regular season. “We can’t ever be taking plays off. We had some of our better players that I was a little disappointed in at times. They did step up at the end and make up for it. But my goodness, that was awful scary.”
“I am proud of the boys. That team (Richwood) is way better than their record shows (2-4). That’s a good football team.”