Redskins Down Big Reds 31-18

Game Statistics Game Photos

HURRICANE - Dylan Plumley passed for two touchdowns and ran for two more to lead Hurricane to a 31-18 MSAC victory over Parkersburg.

Hurricane scored on its first possession, driving 61 yards on 10 running plays with Plumley sneaking the ball over on a fourth and goal situation from the one yard line.

The Big Reds, who, like Hurricane, came into the contest with a 1-0 record, answered that score with a 32 yard field goal by Christian Axman with 3:08 left in the first quarter. The Redskins offset that kick with a 22 yard field goal of their own with 9:58 left in the second period.

It appeared PHS had got the tying touchdown on an 83 yard kickoff return by Rylan Hamilton but a holding penalty not only nullified the score but put the Big Reds back on their own 17. Four plays later PHS fumbled the ball away on their own 46 and it took just one play for Plumley to put his team up by two touchdowns when he threw a touchdown pass to Ben McCallister with 7:24 on the clock. The extra point kick made it 17-3.

The third quarter was scoreless despite a 40 yard run by Karson Snyder that gave the Big Reds a first down on the Hurricane 14. Four plays later PHS turned the ball over on downs at the 11.

PHS got on the board early in the fourth quarter as Ethan Airhart lofted a 14 yard scoring pass into the corner to Brenton Strange, who went up over two defenders to grab the TD with 11:09 remaining in the game. Axman's extra point kick made it 17-10.

A Wyatt Strobl sack helped PHS get the ball back four plays later at midfield and a 22 yard pass to Snyder gave the Big Reds the ball on the Hurricane 28. But a sack, two scrambles and an incomplete pass stopped that drive on the Redskins' 25.

Hurricane widened the margin when Plumley raced 43 yards on a quarterback keeper and the home team immediately got another break when the ensuing kickoff return was fumbled at the PHS 30. For the second time the Redskins made the fumble pay off as on the very next play Plumley hit Dakota Williams with a pass in the end zone for a touchdown to make it 31-10.

The Big Reds scored with 2:02 left in the game on a 31 yard pass down the middle from Bradley Craig to a streaking Snyder. That play was set up by a pair of completions for 18 total yards to Tyler Lawrentz and a four yard pass to Strange. Hamilton ran for the two-point conversion to make it 31-18 but Hurricane was able to cover the onside kickoff attempt and then kneel three straight times to preserve the victory.

Game statistics were fairly even as Hurricane had a 17-16 edge in first downs and a 317-293 margin in total yards. While Plumley was hitting nine of 17 passes for 147, Airhart was 18 of 24 for 134 and Craig completed his only attempt for 31 yards. Snyder caught seven passes for 108 yards while McCallister paced the hosts with five catches for 82 yards. Easton Martin was the top PHS rusher with 49 yards on 13 attempts while Nick Williams led the winners with 60 yards on 16 carries.