Gallery by Tina Laney
Hinton – Summers County head coach Josh Evans had seen Friday night’s scenario last year and he did not like the outcome.
This year, however, on Homecoming at Garten Stadium, the Bobcat’s head man did not leave the field with the same bad taste in his mouth.
After building a 12-0 halftime lead a year ago against Midland Trail in Hico, only to lose 13-12 to the Patriots, Summers County righted a wrong in their minds with a 16-6 win.
“I am proud of the kids. We finally got over that hump. Last week was a good win for us, but two weeks ago we couldn’t do it,” Evans said. “This is special and it is a rivalry to us. Last year we lost by one (point), so you are still swallowing that one and it’s not good. This is great for our kids.”
The first two series for both teams would be a microcosm of events to come.
Needing a yard for its initial first down on the Summers County 47 yard line, Trail was stuffed on fourth down, turning the ball over to the Bobcats.
Seven plays later it was the home team that faced a crucial fourth down at the Trail 28-yard line.
Needing nine yards to keep the drive alive, Summers County senior quarterback Brandan Isaac picked up more than just a first down when he broke free from the heavy Trail pass rush.
“I have been dealing with a little bit of a back injury all week. It hasn’t really stopped me from running the ball, but I can’t really throw the ball down the field,” Isaac said. “I dropped back and I knew the end had crashed, so I got outside and had to make one guy miss. Coach is probably going to yell at me on film (study) because I had the ball hanging out there, but since it was a touchdown, he might let me slide on that one.”
Playing through the pain had its own irony for Isaac who missed the Trail game last year with an injury. Although he didn’t play, the pain of the loss was still fresh on the young signal caller’s mind.
“This was a very important game and a very emotional games, especially with Homecoming and not being able to play last year,” Isaac said. “Trail spotted us 12 points last year, then our offense died down just like tonight. Luckily the defense held tonight.”
Things went from bad to worse for the visitors when the ensuing short kickoff could not be handled and the Bobcats recovered the loose ball.
Four plays later Summers County was in the end zone on a 29-yard run from Ryan Oliveros for a 16-0 lead.
The key play in the drive was a 13-yard run from Isaac on third-and-12.
“(Summers County) does a great job. Just plain and simple I got out-coached. That is my fault,” Midland Trail head coach Jeremy Moore lamented. “Those first two series they knew what we were going to do. They did everything they were supposed to do to beat it.”
Although the Bobcats had hit the Patriots with a haymaker, Trail answered on the next drive to trim the lead back to 16-6.
Using 11 plays, Midland Trail marched 57 yards capped by a Will McGraw five-yard run for the touchdown.
Unfortunately for the Patriots it would be their last trip inside the red zone the remainder of the contest.
“We played defense the entire game,” Moore said. “Credit to them because they jumped out on us and played keep away. They weren’t really milking the clock, we just couldn’t string together some key stops. They do a good job of staying on schedule.”
Trailing by 10 heading to the second half, much of the wind got knocked out the visitors’ sails in the opening drive of the third quarter.
Chewing up over half of the third quarter clock, Summers County marched to the Trail two-yard line before the Patriots recovered a fumble in the end zone.
Three plays later, Summers received another golden opportunity to increase the lead when it recovered a Midland Trail fumble on the 28 yard line.
Again Summers County was left wanting when a touchdown pass was called back on a holding penalty and was later forced to punt the ball back to Trail.
“Defense played their butts off, but we made some mistakes offensively. It was too similar to last year,” Evans said. “We talked about it. We left a lot of points out there, but if we clean some things up we will be fine.”
Although it was still within striking distance, Trail could make the crucial plays and was left stymied by a fumble and a pair of interceptions in the final quarter.
“I feel like I am going to have to go back and hit the reset button as a coach and figure out what I am not doing. These last two years we have just turned the ball over at the most ridiculous rate that I have every seen,” Moore said. “We just can’t do that. We are trying to run tempo and wear these guys out and they had the ball the entire game. It does no good to run three plays in 45 seconds if you are going to give it right back to them.”
Summers County (3-2) heads to Lindside next Friday to battle undefeated James Monroe. Trail on the other hand hosts Class AA Nicholas County and still has road games with the Mavericks and Greenbrier West on the slate.
“It is Mount Everest uphill from here. I am not giving up on these guys. They have been through a lot and they can use that as an excuse if they want to,” Moore said. “I like to think they have a little more pride about themselves than to cash it in. Our focus was still way off tonight and it doesn’t get any easier from here.”
MT: 6 0 0 0 – 6
SC: 16 0 0 0 – 16
First quarter
SC: Brandan Isaac 28 run (Drake Cole rush)
SC: Ryan Oliveros 29 run (Cole rush)
MT: Will McGraw 5 run (rush failed)
Rushing: (MT) Jayden Roop 11-44, McGraw 17-32-1, Preston Compton 3-6; (SC) Cole 13-51, Oliveros 9-47-1, Isaac 10-50-1, Tyson Adkins 6-17, Damien Fullen 2-14.
Passing: (MT) Jaden Gladwell 8-14-90-1-0, Compton 2-3-29-1-0; (SC) Isaac 7-16-99-1-0.
Receiving: (MT) Roop 1-5, Landon Syner 1-18, Ian Harper 1-8, Compton 5-59, Roop 1-5, Gladwell 1-25; (SC) Oliveros 4-69, Fuller 2-10, Cole 2-20.
