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Parkersburg’s Mace has big game vs. Hurricane

Big Reds dominate, 35-7

Parkersburg’s Jake Johnson, pictured here looking for running room during the Big Reds’ 35-7 victory Friday night against Hurricane inside Stadium Field, returned the second-half kickoff 87 yards, which set up teammate Tyler Moler’s 3-yard touchdown run. Photo by Jay W. Bennett.

PARKERSBURG — Quarterback Kam Mace had another big game for host Parkersburg here Friday night at Stadium Field as the No. 12 Big Reds never trailed during a 35-7 victory against No. 8 Hurricane.

The 5-3 Big Reds of first-year head coach Mike Byus took a big step in securing an opening round Class AAA home playoff game, but led just 7-0 at intermission.

Hurricane head coach Jeremy Taylor’s Redskins not only droppped to 4-4 with a road tilt set for next Friday night at George Washington, but they also lost 1,000-yard rusher Christian Hill to a shoulder injury in the first half after just a trio of carries.

Brenton Strange, who finished with six grabs and a game-high 115 yards receiving, raced 67 yards to paydirt at 2:11 of the opening quarter when he hauled in a Mace pass and turned it upfield, going the distance untouched.

“We prepared for that all week. We had that one play and they blitzed and it was wide open for a touchdown. We worked on it all week,” said Mace, who completed 21 of 27 passes for 258 yards with three touchdowns and no picks.

PHS, which will welcome Riverside to town next Friday, had to start its first two drives of the game at its own 1 thanks to some nifty punting from Timothy McCutcheon. It looked like the Redskins would trail 3-0 early in the second, but Christian Axman’s 23-yard field goal attempt never had a chance following an akward hold. Redskin Steven Shine recovered a Big Red fumble late in the half, but a 45-yard field goal attempt by McCutcheon was just short.

“Halftime was we had to come out and put up some points on the board,” added Mace, who was appreciative of tailback Tyler Moler’s effort going for 82 yards on 21 totes.

“That team right there was just like us. We knew if we didn’t put them down quick they’d come back and it could be a game and we came out and did just that.”

Jake Johnson, who hauled in seven receptions for 69 yards, jitterbugged his way to an electric 87-yard kickoff return to open the second half. On first-and-goal from the 3, Moler punched it in and the Redskins were down two scores.

Hurricane’s ensuing drive ended when signal-caller Nathan Roy, who went 14 of 29 for 96 yards, was stuffed and fumbled on a fourth-and-inches play with Big Red Kionte Peacock recovering. The Redskins, though, got the pigskin right back just three plays later thanks to a John Porter fumble recovery.

HHS opted to try some ground and pound in the second half and that continued on the following series as Payton Lunsford, who rushed 11 times for 69 stripes, eventually scored from 13 yards out to make it 14-7 with 7:21 remaining in the third.

Lunsford’s sack helped thwart the Big Reds’ next series, but Big Red punter Matt Curry’s boot was muffed by Curon Cordon and recovered by Braedon Mason, which game PHS all the momentum it needed.

Two plays later, tight end Nathan Steed was wide open for a 24-yard touchdown reception.

“It was a good call by coach,” Mace added. “It was a corner. He was the first read and if we was open deep and no one around, throw it deep.”

Still within striking distance entering the fourth, Hurricane’s first drive of the period resulted in a costly fumble, which was pounced on by Josh Ankrom. On the first play of the drive, Mace connected with Steed on a deep cross for a 46-yard catch-and-run TD.

“He (Nathan) had a good night tonight. Everyone did. The o-line did,” continued Mace, who was more than happy to watch teammate Brandon Braham get the final six-pointer with 9:32 to play via a 7-yard scoop-and-score following an errant snap by the Redskins while in punt formation. “I got really good protection all night even with them blitzing hard.”

Cordon finished with a game-high seven catches for 33 yards while leading wideout Dakota Wiliams had three grabs for 31 yards.

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