Sept 7, 2018 at at Beckley Woodrow Wilson

Big Reds Burst Beckley’s Win Bubble With 28-7 Triumph

Game Statistics / Game Photos

BECKLEY – Brenton Strange made his official 2018 season debut with a pair of touchdown receptions and the Parkersburg Big Reds broke into the win column here Friday night by handing the Flying Eagles their first loss of the season by a convincing 28-7 score.
A low start and squandering two early scoring opportunities did not deter the Big Reds from rolling up an impressive 476 yards in total offense against a Beckley team which had allowed less than half that total in the first two games combined.
While Strange was catching seven passes for 162 yards and two scores, Jake Johnson threw for 247 yards and ran for 51 more including a touchdown. Tyler Moler turned into another workhorse effort carrying the ball for PHS with 151 yards on 24 carries and one touchdown.
Kionte Peacock had the most misfortune for PHS on the night as he had both a 70-yard punt return touchdown and a 62-yard interception return TD wiped out by penalties.
The Big Reds had 233 yards rushing and held a 23-8 margin in first downs but had three turnovers and were whistled for 121 yards in penalties. Beckley, which had just 234 yards in total offense, was flagged 10 times for 99 yards and turned the ball over one time. The Eagles managed just 111 yards on the ground and leading rusher Micah Hancock was held to only 31 yards in 13 attempts.
PHS started off with a bang as Johnson and Strange hooked up on a 50 yard pass play on just the second offensive play. The visitors drove from their 33 to the Beckley 10 but Johnson was intercepted in the end zone by Logan Cook, who already has a 97 yard interception return TD to his credit this year.
The Flying Eagle took advantage of that turnover thanks to a 58-yard pass completion to Nick Wickline, who caught the ball along the left sideline, headed up field and just as he was about to be tackled he fumbled and recovered his own bouncing ball and went all the way to the two yard line before C.J. Wade caught him. Hancock wound up scoring three plays later from the stick-I formation with 2:35 left in the first quarter.
A fortunate penalty made it appear that PHS would tie the game before a turnover caused a change of fortune. Beckley came up with an interception and return for a touchdown by Zach Weaver only to have the play nullified by a roughing the passer flag. The Big Reds got the ball back and drove to the 13 yard line from where Tyler Moler looked like he would score the equalizer only to fumble the ball at the goal line with Beckley recovering in the end zone for a touchback.
Then Peacock had his 70 yard punt return for a touchdown called back for a roughing the kicker penalty.
For a while it looked like PHS might never score but getting the ball back on its 27 with 2:46 left in the half the Big Reds put together an 11-0play drive with featured 10 and 20 yard pass completions to Strange and a 30 yards rushing by Moler to push the ball to the five yard line with time running out. With just 10 seconds left in the half, Johnson lofted a pass to Strange in the end zone and Issac Withrow added the extra point kick to make it 7-all at the break.
The second half was all PHS as the Big Reds scored on its first three possessions.
The first touchdown in the third quarter was not without its problem. A 32-yard run by Moler started things but four plays later Johnson was intercepted again by Weaver and again the play was called back by a roughing the passer call. Moler eventually plowed over left tackle for the score to put PHS up for good.
The next score came on an 18-yard run by Johnson to cap an 81-yard drive and the Big Reds added yet another TD with 38 seconds left in the third period on a 52 yard pass and run down the sidelines to Strange.
Late in the third quarter Peacock showed he was still having a bad luck night as he intercepted a pass and returned it 62 yards for a touchdown only to have a holding penalty negate the score. The Big Reds would score later on the long pass play to Strange.
Wade was unofficially the leading tackler for PHS with seven stops.