Parkersburg South running back Kooper Jackson looks for a hole during the Patriots' 31-7 setback to Woodrow Wilson on Friday night at Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

PARKERSBURG — Gage Burdette’s strip-sack and ensuing 46-yard fumble return for a touchdown with 82 seconds left here Friday night on the new turf at the Erickson All-Sports Facility was the icing on the cake as Woodrow Wilson left town with a 31-7 victory to spoil Parkersburg South’s home debut for first-year head coach Larry Thompson.

Parkersburg South, which slipped to 0-3 and heads next Friday to rival Parkersburg, held a 200-156 advantage in total yards, but couldn’t overcome a trio of lost fumbles.

Kooper Jackson went for game-highs of 22 carries and 155 yards for the Patriots, who got their only six-pointer when the junior scored from the 1 at 5:22 of the third to make it 10-7 after James Thompson’s extra point.

The 8-play, 55-yard scoring march was quickly answered by the now 2-1 Flying Eagles of head man Steve Sarrett, who got a 35-yard scoring strike on a fourth-and-10 snap thanks to Gage Price hooking up with Preston Clary, which came 57 seconds into the fourth.

PSHS started its next drive at the 2 and turned it over on downs at the Flying Eagles 35.

South's Kamero Jackson (39) tackles Woodrow Wilson quarterback Gage Price during Friday’s game at Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Price, who hit 9 of 15 attempts for 61 yards and was picked off by Taj Joyce, scored from the 4 after he found JW Wynes for a 25-yard completion on a fourth-and-7 play at the Patriot 29.

“Just got to go back to practice and get better,” admitted coach Thompson, who lost quarterback/linebacker Collin Hayes to an injury. “We keep shooting ourselves in the foot. Congrats to coach Sarrett. Woodrow Wilson came out here and played a hard game. We told our kids they are going to come out here and fight for four quarters. I don’t think we did. We lost that battle.

“I got to go watch the film, peel back the layers, read and then see what’s going on. It’s the same thing, different week. We get them where we want them. It’s fourth-and-10 and they score a touchdown on us. It’s little things like that. I don’t blame the loss on that. It’s just one of those situations where the mistakes that are happening Monday through Thursday, they are showing up on Friday. It’s as simple as that.”

After winning the coin toss and taking the ball, Woodrow Wilson punted and PSHS did the same.

The Flying Eagles had the first chance at denting the scoreboard on their next possession, but Vince Umberger’s 28-yard field goal was off the mark.

Parkersburg South’s Derek Sandy (2) wraps up Woodrow Wilson’s Gage Burdette (3) during Friday’s game at Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Parkersburg South turned the ball over on downs at the Woodrow Wilson 46 and 45 on its next two drives.

Despite forcing another punt and taking possession at their own 18, the Patriots fumbled as Jamarques Manns came away with the recovery. However, the drive ended thanks to Joyce’s pick in the end zone.

Just three plays later, coach Thompson’s squad put the ball on the turf again as Tyrez Jones pounced on it.

Looking at a first-and-goal from the 5 with 4:49 to go in the half, coach Sarrett called on Burdette, but after gaining 3 yards he fumbled the ball. However, as it went bouncing into the end zone teammate AJ Thomas was able to fall on it and it was 7-0 after Umberger’s PAT.

The Flying Eagles, who head next Friday night to Bluefield, watched the Patriots go for it on fourth-and-8 from their own 37, but a negative 4-yard screen pass was the result.

Parkersburg South’s Taj Joyce comes down with an interception while guarding Woodrow Wilson’s AJ Thomas (5) during Friday’s game at Erickson All-Sports Facility. (Photo by Jay W. Bennett)

Umberger’s 32-yard field goal was true, which made it 10-0 with 1:12 left before intermission.

“Parkersburg South was a good 0-2 team,” admitted coach Sarrett, who got 85 ground yards on 21 attempts from Burdette with Clary grabbing four balls for 42 strips. “Things just didn’t roll their way and man it was just like us last week (28-14 loss to Greenbrier East).

“Turn that ball over, you’re not going to win. The guys made plays tonight man. Ran the ball very well tonight. Preston Clary with a great catch tonight. Our defense, hats off, they were after it. It’s good to get back in the win column.”

Hayes finished 8 of 13 for 8 yards while Kinzyn Lutchmansingh was 5 of 12 for 29 yards.

Contact Jay Bennett at jbennett@newsandsentinel.com