09,22,2017: Marietta at PHS Game
Strange, Moler Lead Big Reds Over Tigers
Game Statistics / Game Photos
Brenton Strange scored three touchdowns and Tyler Moler added two as the Parkersburg Big Reds avenged two straight defeats by Ohio River rival Marietta and bounced the visiting Tigers to the tune of 45-10.
The Big Reds came up with numerous big plays and piled up 449 yards in total offense while containing Marietta's explosive trio of Dominic Vanfossen, Corbin Alkire and Tanner Slack. The PHS defense came up with four turnovers including three interceptions and limited the Tigers to one touchdown.
Strange hauled in two scoring passes from Kam Mace, covering nine and 55 yards and also ran 34 yards for a touchdown. Moler scored on runs of 26 and 31 yards while gaining 122 yards on just 12 carries.
Mace completed 14 of 19 passes for 203 yards and threw a third TD pass, this one for 16 yards to Shane Miller.
Meanwhile, the Big Red prevent unit limited Marietta to 133 yards rushing on 47 attempts as Vanfossen gained 111 yards but carried the ball 27 times on the night. PHS linebacker Wyatt Strobl, who, like Vanfossen wears number 24, tackled the Marietta back no less than seven times during the game.
In the air, Marietta quarterback Alkire came into the game leading the area in passing yardage but completed just eight of 19 passes for 70 yards and was picked off three times with Seth Dailey, Kionte Peacock and Brandon Braham all getting interceptions.
Tigers leading receiver Tanner Slack was held to two catches for 23 yards as the PHS defense stopped Marietta 12 of 15 times on third down.
Strobl finished with 13 unofficial tackles while Strange had eight. Peacock also had a fumble recovery.
The tone of the game was set early when Strange fell on a Marietta bad snap on a punt and the Big Reds started just 37 yards from the end zone. Three plays later Moler went over the right side and covered the final 26 yards with 9:22 left in the first period for a 6-0 lead.
The Big Reds, who didn't help themselves by being penalized 12 times for 123 yards, turned the ball over on the first play of their next possession and Marietta eventually got on the scoreboard early in the second quarter when Trenton Neale kicked a 40 yard field goal to cap an 11-play, 43 yard drive.
Three interceptions took place over the next three minutes but one by Peacock gave PHS the ball near midfield and this time Strange took over as a ball carrier instead of receiver as he broke off a nice 34 yard, spinning touchdown run with 5:34 on the clock. Mace's extra point pass to Miller made it 14-3.
Another interception (the fourth in a 5:43), this one by Dailey, gave the Big Reds the ball at the Marietta 18 after a 34 yard return by the PHS senior.
Although it took seven plays the Big Reds finally scored on a pass from Mace to Miller with the kick making it 21-3 with 2:34 left in the half.
Caden Florence had a 35 yard punt return to set up another quick PHS score. A nine-yard pass to Jake Johnson, who caught five passes for 118 yards in the game, set up a 28 yard run by Moler. Moler ran through several defenders on his TD run to give the Big Reds a 25-point halftime advantage.
The second half was more of the same at PHS scored on its first two possessions to make it 42-3 with just two and a half minutes gone in the third period.
Moler's running set up a nine-yard scoring pass to Strange with 10:33 on the clock and less than a minute later Strange broke loose for a 55-yard pass and run play.
Marietta staved off the inevitable by putting together a time-consuming 17-play drive that covered 76 yards and produced a touchdown with 2:02 left in the third quarter. The scoring play was a 12 yard pass from Alkire to Vanfossen.
A 50-yard pass down the right sideline to Johnson set up the game's final scoring play, a 35 yard field goal by Christian Axman to make the score 45-10 and initiate the running clock mercy rule.
Tigers vs Big Reds (Sep 22, 2017 at Parkersburg, WV)
Score by Quarters |
|
1 |
2 |
3 |
4 |
Total |
|
Tigers |
|
|
0 |
3 |
7 |
0 |
10 |
|
Big Reds |
|
|
6 |
22 |
14 |
3 |
45 |
|
Qtr |
Time |
Scoring play |
|
|
|
|
|
|
1st |
09:22 |
PHS - Tyler Moler 26 yd run (Christian Axman kick blocked), 3-37 0:56 |
2nd |
10:30 |
MARIETTA - Trenton Neal 40 yd field goal, 11-43 4:16 |
|
05:34 |
PHS - Brenton Strange 34 yd run (Shane Miller pass from Kam Mace), 4-51 2:00 |
|
02:34 |
PHS - Shane Miller 16 yd pass from Kam Mace (Christian Axman kick), 7-18 2:13 |
|
00:24 |
PHS - Tyler Moler 31 yd run (Christian Axman kick), 2-40 0:37 |
3rd |
10:22 |
PHS - Brenton Strange 9 yd pass from Kam Mace (Christian Axman kick), 5-40 1:27 |
|
09:26 |
PHS - Brenton Strange 55 yd pass from Kam Mace (Christian Axman kick), 2-73 0:23 |
|
02:02 |
MARIETTA - Dominic Vanfossen 12 yd pass from Corbin Alkire (Trenton Neal kick), 15-76 7:17 |
4th |
06:14 |
PHS - Christian Axman 35 yd field goal, 6-55 3:02 |
Tigers (3-2) vs. Big Reds (2-2)
Date: Sep 22, 2017 • Site: Parkersburg, WV • Stadium: Stadium Field
Attendance: 3800
Kickoff time: 7:30 • End of Game: 9:56 • Total elapsed time: 2:26
