ELKVIEW, W.Va. — After allowing the first score to Wirt County, Greenbrier West responded with 39 unanswered points to defeat the Tigers, 45-19 in a season-opening game played at Herbert Hoover High School.
Adryon Hartford’s 1-yard touchdown tote capped a 5-minute opening drive and the Tigers. However, the Cavaliers would not surrender another point until the middle of the fourth quarter.
“Honestly, when we started out on defense, we were a little shell-shocked,” said Greenbrier West head coach Kelly Vaughan. “They made a couple of nice plays, some nice runs and they got down the field fast on us. We were trying to rotate kids in and out just to give them some reps. We knew it was going to be hot. A couple of them got lined up wrong. We will improve with that, not only the kids, but the coaching staff too. We’ve got to do a better job getting the kids and out. But after that, shoot, I thought they played a great game.”
Greenbrier West pulled within a point at 7-6 when Isaiah Coleman scored on a 5-yard touchdown tote. It was the first of two touchdowns for Coleman in the opening half.
West took a lead they would not relinquish in the second quarter when Shane Plogger returned an interception 50 yards for a touchdown.
“Anytime you get a score like that, that increases your odds of winning.”
Leading 20-7 at halftime, Ben Butler began to take control of the game for the Cavaliers. His 20-yard touchdown tote gave West a 26-7 lead at the end of the third quarter. Butler later added a 40-yard punt return for a score and a 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter. Scott McClung also scored on a 1-yard touchdown run.
“You’ve got different options and different kids carrying the ball. It just makes the game more fluid. And it helps out later in the game.
“Wirt County has got a nice team. They are well-coached and they are going to win some ball games. Last year we played in this little classic and Roane County thumped us pretty good. So it was very nice to start off with a W.”
Hartford scored a pair of touchdowns for the Tigers. Luke Hickman connected with Andrew Lemley on a 39-yard scoring strike in the fourth quarter.