MOOREFIELD, W.Va. — East Hardy used an impressive defensive effort in the final two quarters and a dominant rushing performance from running back Nehemiah Graham to defeat Moorefield, 34-27 in the annual Hardy Bowl.
The game was delayed three days following the passing of MHS football staff member Jacob Metheny on Friday. Metheny’s son, Edison, is a team captain for the Yellow Jackets. He scored a touchdown and intercepted a pass in the game.
“We always are one community, aside from when it comes to sports. We like to butt heads a lot, sure. At the end of the day, when something like this happens, we came together,” said East Hardy head coach Devon Orndorff. “They came together with us when Josh Hahn passed away several years ago. We knew the right things to do. We have been praying for him all week. Our guys know him and our coaches know him. Hopefully, this is a little bit of a healing time.”
Great sportsmanship between East Hardy & Moorefield as EHHS players and staff present MHS’ Edison Metheny with the Hardy Bowl trophy. Edison’s father, Jacob, passed away on Friday.
East Hardy won, 34-27.
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The teams traded touchdowns three times in a high-scoring first half. The Cougars (7-0) opened the scoring with a 63-yard Trevor Roof touchdown pass to Brinn Childers. That duo combined for a 10-yard touchdown with ten seconds left in the first half to pull East Hardy within a point, 21-20.
Metheny (30 yards), Bill Lewis (12 yards) and Keysean Washington (5 yards) all scored rushing touchdowns for the Yellow Jackets (4-3) in the first half.
East Hardy’s defense tightened up in the second half, allowing only a Lewis 54-yard touchdown run with 90 seconds left to play after intermission.
“Better execution. All we did, I came out with the white board and halftime and said, ‘This is what you are supposed to be doing. And you are not doing it’. It was just a reminder.”
Trailing 21-20 early in the fourth quarter, Graham broke off a 53-yard touchdown run to give the Cougars a 28-21 lead. He added an 18-yard scoring run with 2:30 to go, giving East a 34-21 lead before Lewis’ second touchdown run.
“He’s the best player on the field most nights. We’re going to ride his coattails. Nehemiah, I am more impressed with the kind of kid he is. His foundation, his religion, his parents, his family, he has come a long way for somebody that never touched a football until seventh grade. Obviously, he is an excellent football player. We are going to keep giving him the ball and hopefully we get some similar results going forward.”
After playing three games in nine days earlier this season, East Hardy now faces another short turnaround, heading into their Week 9 contest with Pocahontas County.
“I think [PCHS] were able to keep this game with Moorefield close in the first half. It was like a 10-point ball game and stayed that way until the end of the third or so. We are about to leave one smash mouth football game and get right back into another in about four days.”