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PHS downs Ripley, 4-1, in sectional final

Parkersburg’s Parker Miller works against Ripley defender Kaegun Jackson Thursday during the Big Reds’ 4-1 Class AAA Region IV, Section I finals win over the Vikings at Stadium Field. Miller scored a goal and assisted on another in the second half. Photo by Joe Albright.

PARKERSBURG — Potentially facing the last 40 minutes of what had been until then a great season, the Parkersburg boys (15-3-3) needed some help to overcome a 1-0 halftime deficit against Ripley (14-6-2) in the Class AAA Region IV, Section I soccer final Thursday night

PHS and head man Don Fosselman got exactly the help they required from a trio of leaders who had been at the forefront of the squad’s success all season long. Parker Miller, Immanuel “Pokie” Opoku-Duah and Teddy Hutson all found the back of the net and recorded an assist each as the Big Reds scored four unanswered goals to claim victory, 4-1.

“Those three are on our leadership squad,” said Fosselman. “I kept preaching not to worry. We were getting shots, but they didn’t sneak in. I knew we weren’t in bad shape only down a goal and just needed some good things to happen in the second half and they did.”

Miller was the first to get on the board when he scored an equalizer in the 43rd minute off a beautiful feed from Opoku-Duah. Pokie was rewarded for his hard work on Miller’s goal nine minutes later when Miller returned the favor in the 54th minute. The sophomore found Pokie, who outraced three defenders before kicking the ball past Ripley goalkeeper Austin Young.

“That really was something else, wasn’t it,” said Fosselman. “Pokie absolutely amazes me and he can do almost anything out there on the pitch. He is a fun player to watch.”

Hutson made the score 3-1 six minutes after Opoku-Duah tallied his goal when he broke away from a gaggle of defenders and snuck a well-placed shot between Ripley’s Young and the left goal post.

The senior tallied his helper point two minutes later when he fed Miller for his second score of the evening to put the score at 4-1.

“It was really cool how everything worked out tonight with the scoring,” said Opoku-Duah. “I helped Parker score and then Parker helped me score, then Teddy helped Parker score. It was a nice trio of offense tonight.”

Offensively, the output was a relief to see after the Vikings managed to stifle a potent PHS attack in the opening half. The Big Reds had just four shots on goal and had a hard time moving the ball down the field.

“This was a frustrating game, said Fosselman. “I really coach possession, possession, possession, but Ripley wasn’t letting us have anything. At halftime, I told the guys to just start kicking the ball over the Vikings’ heads to move the ball downfield.”

The red and white will now face Hurricane in the Region IV final, with a chance to advance to the state championship, at 5 p.m. next Thursday at Stadium Field.

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