COAL CITY, W.Va. — A fast start and a stout performance with their defense in the red zone allowed No. 2 Independence to pull away from No. 3 Bluefield, 31-10.
The Patriots scored 14 points in the first four minutes and their defense played well with their backs against their own goal posts to run their record to 5-0.
Sylas Nelson scored on a pair of touchdown runs of 32 and 11 yards and he recovered a fumble in Bluefield territory in the first quarter, giving IHS a 14-0 lead.
“Anytime you are playing a championship-type team, you’ve got to jump on them and get momentum on your side. I think for the first quarter-and-a-half, we had momentum,” said Independence head coach John H. Lilly.
“I tip my hat off to them. It was a great football game with two championship-type teams playing tonight. It was just a really good game.”
Staked to a two-score lead, the Patriots added a Micah Cuthbert 27-yard field goal to build their lead to 17-0.
Bluefield scored the next ten points in the game, sandwiched around halftime. With 1:06 to play in the second quarter, Max Simpson connected with Tylee Simon on a 36-yard touchdown pass while facing fourth-and-15. In the third quarter, Eli Riffe’s 29-yard field goal trimmed the BHS deficit to 17-10.
However, Nelson added a third touchdown run (7 yards) midway through the third, rebuilding a two-score lead at 24-10.
“We knew we had to run behind that offensive line. I am really proud of them because there are three sophomores on that line. They played really well tonight and I am proud of them.”
Brock Green’s one-yard quarterback sneak capped the scoring midway through the fourth quarter.
Bluefield was able to move the ball well in between the 20-yard lines. However, Independence allowed just three points on Bluefield’s four possessions that entered the red zone.
“We had to buckle up in the end zone. We knew they were going to get big plays. When they got inside the 20, we had to really buckle up. It was kind of how we practiced all week, situationally. And it worked.”
The Patriots will host Westside in Week 6, in the second of three consecutive home games.
“We’ve got a really tough road ahead of us. Down the stretch we have a very difficult schedule. Anytime you can beat a good team, you take it. You enjoy the weekend and get ready for the next one.”
Bluefield concludes the first half of their schedule with a 3-2 record. The Beavers will visit Wythe, Va. next Friday.