Coalfield Comeback Downs Harriman

By Terry Futrell – August 31, 2018

It wasn’t pretty, but they only give style points in gymnastics and diving. The only thing that will show up in the record books is the final score – Coalfield 23, Harriman 12. It was a hard-fought come-from-behind victory for the Yellow Jackets, who were down 12-3 at the half after every offensive drive was halted by penalties or miscues. But, it was a more disciplined Yellow Jacket team that emerged from the locker room for the second half, forging a comeback through a smothering defense and an offense that consistently moved the ball.

Coalfield took the opening kickoff and quickly moved downfield, with quarterback Lance Byrd connecting with Peyton McKinney on a 42-yard pass on the second play from scrimmage. The drive was halted as Byrd was sacked by Abram Godsey, followed immediately by a Yellow Jacket false start. Wyatt Withrow came on to kick a 30-yard field goal, which would prove to be the Jackets only score in the first half.

Each team faltered on their next drives. Harriman then moved downfield from their own 20 to score on a 36-yard pass from quarterback Bradly Frost to Giovanni Cromwell. The Blue Devils missed the PAT and led 6-3.

After both teams struggled to move the ball, Coalfield moved from their own 39-yard line to the Harriman 25, where they turned the ball over on downs. Harriman then took the ball downfield to the Coalfield 4-yard line, where Trezdin Copeland ran for a touchdown with 2:53 remaining in the half. The Blue Devils 2-point conversion attempt was stopped by Coalfield’s Johnny Carroll, leaving the score at 12-6 for the remainder of the first half.

Harriman took the opening 2nd-half kickoff and moved to the Coalfield 35, but the Coalfield defense stepped up and halted progress at that point. Harriman punted and Coalfield took over at their own 35. Byrd connected with Isaac VanWitzenburg for 14 yards, then tossed a 50-yard pass to Peyton McKinney. Byrd ran the ball in for a 1-yard touchdown, Withrow made the PAT, and the Jackets narrowed the Harriman lead to 12-10.

Coalfield then forced a Blue Devil fumble and recovered the ball at the Harriman 26. A Harriman unsportsmanlike conduct penalty moved the ball to the Harriman 15. From there, it was all Seth Lowe as he ran the ball four consecutive downs, the final being a 1-yard touchdown run to put the Jackets ahead. The 2-point conversion attempt failed and the Jackets led 16-12.

Coalfield’s defense then shut down the Blue Devil offense, and the Jackets took over at the Harriman 43. A series of successful runs and a 12-yard completion to Isaac VanWitzenburg culminated in a 6-yard touchdown run by Ashton Jones. Withrow made the PAT and the Jackets went ahead 23-12, which would be the final score.

Coalfield killed the clock down the stretch by successfully moving the ball on the ground. On one drive, Ashton Jones ran the ball for seven consecutive plays, gaining a total of 45 yards. The drive ended in a missed field goal. Harriman was not successful in mounting a counter offensive, and the Blue Devil offense suffered a severe blow when quarterback Bradly Frost was injured and taken by ambulance to the hospital.

Byrd completed 8 of 16 passes in the game for 138 yards. Peyton McKinney was on the receiving end of two of these passes for 92 yards. Ashton Jones rushed 16 times for 72 yards and 1 TD, while Seth Lowe rushed 8 times for 27 yards and 1 TD. For Harriman, Frost completed 4 of 16 passes for 109 yards. Two of these were caught by Giovanni Cromwell for 59 yards and 1 TD. The Jacket defense held Harriman to a total of 76 yards rushing in 24 attempts.

Coalfield’s victory over the Blue Devils gets league play off to a good start as the Yellow Jackets move on to play at Sunbright next week. The Tigers were crushed by Greenback 49-0.

Note: Thanks to Brian Langley for the detailed stats.

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