FRANKLIN, W.Va. — Trailing Pendleton County 34-21 with just under four minutes to play, Moorefield had little margin for error to complete a comeback. Two forced turnovers and a pair of touchdowns over the final 3:53 allowed the Yellow Jackets to collect another impressive early-season victory in a 35-34 triumph over the Wildcats.
Moorefield (3-1) has won three consecutive games after falling to defending Class AA champion Frankfort in their season opener.
“We go into halftime with Elkins [Week 2] and we are down 17-7 and at one point we were down 17-0. It is not easy for us as coaches because we are getting older and it is harder on us. We are trying to get these guys to where they are a four-quarter team,” said Moorefield head coach Eric Linville. “But they just don’t give up. They will fight until the end.”
Moorefield led 7-0 after the opening quarter. Caleb Flinn scored on a 3-yard run with 46 seconds remaining in the frame. Pendleton County evened the score on the first play of the second quarter. Colton Roberson found Travis Owens in the corner of the end zone on a 13-yard strike. With 4:08 to play in the half, Roberson scored on a 6-yard tote, giving PenCo a 14-7 halftime lead.
The Wildcats added to their lead with 2:59 to play in the third when Roberson scored on a 1-yard sneak, making the score 21-7.
On Moorefield’s next possession, the Yellow Jackets were facing fourth-and-3 from their 40-yard line. The snap went past quarterback Matthew Iman, but the sophomore scooped it up and scampered 60 yards to the end zone. MHS trailed 21-14 through three quarters.
“He is an unbelievable athlete. We can put him anywhere on the field. He is very determined. If it is a short yardage situation, I know we can give the ball to Matthew and he is going to do everything he can to get the first down for us.”
The Moorefield defense forced a stop and Pendleton lined up to punt. The snap sailed past the punter and Moorefield freshman Dakon Taylor scooped it and scored it from 25 yards, tying the game at 21.
“We practice that. That’s one of those things where it is good to see practice reps take place in the game.”
Pendleton immediately answered with consecutive touchdown drives. Roberson scored on a 10-yard run and he later found Owens for a 26-yard scoring strike, giving the Wildcats a 34-21 lead. However, Roberson was injured on the touchdown pass and he did not return to the game.
Iman answered with his second touchdown, a 10-yard run, with 3:43 to play, pulling MHS within a score at 34-27.
On the ensuing possession, PCHS backup quarterback Mason Miller tossed a 74-yard touchdown pass to Owens with just over three minutes to play. However, a penalty negated the touchdown.
On the next play, Edison Metheny stepped in front of a pass and brought it back for a pick-6. It was Metheny’s second interception of the game. Iman rushed for a two-point conversion to give Moorefield their first lead since the second quarter, 35-34.
“Edison has been stepping up in the last couple weeks. He has done great. We had our backs against the wall several times. They’ve got a great passing game. We just got the big push when we needed it.”
With just over a minute to play, Pendleton drove into the Moorefield red zone. However, Thomas Simmons intercepted a pass at the 2-yard line. The Yellow Jackets ran out the clock to close out their first victory over Pendleton since 2022.
“Every game for us this season is going to be huge. We’ve got another tough one next week with [Class] AA Petersburg. We just hit the reset button on Monday and try to look forward, not in the past.”
Roberson accounted for all five Pendleton County (1-2) touchdowns [three rushing, two passing].