HICO, W.Va. — Colton Yoder scored four second half touchdowns as Midland Trail edged Independence 26-24 in the annual Patriot Bowl. All 50 points in the game were scored in the second half.
Yoder scored on touchdown runs of 1, 5, 57 and 18 yards. He also played a huge role in Trail’s game-clinching drive in the fourth quarter.
“I have told people, he is going to be a name that people remember,” said Midland Trail head coach Frank Isaacs. “He is going to be something to stop and people are going to have to key on him.”
The teams alternated touchdowns in the second half and the difference was a successful two-point conversion for Midland Trail that put them ahead 26-18 late in the third quarter.
Independence received a pair of touchdown runs from Cody Fleenor. Atticus Goodson also had a touchdown run and a touchdown reception.
Midland Trail advanced to the Class A state semifinals in 2018 and finished at 12-1. But they are fielding a much younger roster this year with several underclassmen thrust into the starting lineup.
“They grew up man, they grew up,” Isaacs said. “They are still freshmen and sophomores but they grew up a lot. They know what it feels like now to play varsity football. A year ago, two of those (starters) were playing middle school football.”