Herbert Hoover’s Blake Fisher (1) blocks a pass attempt by Parkersburg’s Alex Greer (24), who was trying to connect with teammate Hunter Leavitt (10) during Friday’s game. (Photo by Craig Allison)

ELKVIEW — The word “response” can be defined in a variety of ways.

Herbert Hoover football coach Joey Fields’ favorite definition was the way the Huskies responded after being up just 14-7 at halftime over Parkersburg.

The Huskies outscored the Big Reds 33-7 after intermission en route to a 47-14 victory on Friday night in Elkview.

“We did challenge some guys, but our guys challenged each other,” Fields said. “They didn’t like how they played. We went back to max effort, which is the heartbeat of success. They played harder and did their jobs there in the second half.

“We made some little adjustments. We needed to do better at establishing the run and take care of the football. Our defense also did a heck of a job. Credit the defensive staff.”

One of those Huskies who answered the call was quarterback Peyton Grigsby. Grigsby threw for 70 yards in the first half. However, the sophomore quarterback picked it up in the second half, amassing 192 passing yards in the second half for a total of 262.

Grigsby also threw five touchdown passes in the 33-point victory.

The Huskies quarterback was effective on the ground as well, as he carried the ball 10 times for 95 yards, including 83 yards in the second half, and one score.

“He was a guy that had a tale of two halves,” Fields said. “He didn’t play great in the first half, but be responded through that. The main thing with him was tucking it down and keeping drives alive. When he tucks it down and keeps the drives alive, it allows us to get first downs and more plays.

“Now, we got opportunities to make more plays to get our skill guys the ball. But, overall, I’m pleased with his effort, especially in the second half.”

The Big Reds, who entered No. 9 in the latest WVSSAC Class AAAA playoff ratings, fell to 5-5.

Parkersburg totaled 262 yards of offense.

Herbert Hoover, unlike Parkersburg, has one more regular-season game remaining, which comes against the Weir Red Riders.

The Huskies’ win figures to go a long way toward securing a first-round home playoff game at Husky Stadium.

“This was huge,” Fields said. “Regardless of the result, we needed to play better after last week [a loss at Frankfort]. It did a lot for us. We grew, but we’ve been kind of coasting a little bit. The Frankfort game woke us up. It was challenging in a lot of aspects, but it woke us up. We’ve had better practices since.

“Our kids play well at their house, but we got to play well regardless of the environment, if you want to play long into November.”

Herbert Hoover wasted no time on its opening possession, marching down the field, and capping it off with an 8-yard touchdown run by Blake Fisher for a 7-0 lead.

After a missed field goal by Parkersburg, the Huskies were on the Big Reds side of the field and didn’t take long to extend their lead to 14-0.

Grigsby threw his first of five touchdown passes, including his first of two to wideout Lance Williams, for a 7-yard touchdown.

Parkersburg fought back midway through the second quarter, as quarterback Alex Greer and Austin Craven connected for a 12-yard score.

The Huskies led 14-7 at the half.

The two traded touchdowns to begin the second half, with Grigsby tossing his second touchdown, this time to Sam Kee.

Greer threw his second touchdown as well, as he found Tytan Parsons for a 58-yard score.

Greer produced 189 yards of offense and two touchdowns, both through the air.

However, following the Big Reds’ 14th point, the Huskies scored on all of their offensive possessions the remainder of the game.

Grigsby accounted for three of the final four touchdowns by Herbert Hoover, including a 27-yard run and two touchdown passes, to Williams and Aiden Hernandez.

Hernandez finished with seven catches for 111 yards and one touchdown.

“I struggle with him each week because he’s so talented, and I got to do a better job of getting him the ball and getting him the ball where he wants it,” Fields said. “He responded really well. It won’t show up in stats, but he played really good defensively and led to help us to win this game. Then, he’s kicking off. He’s doing a lot for us.”

The nail in the coffin for the Huskies came with 1:01 left, as Fisher snuck away for a 49-yard touchdown strike, making it 47-14.

Parkersburg coach Matt Kimes saw positives from the early stages of the game but said the Big Reds let it get away from them late.

“I felt like we played a really solid, competitive game for three quarters against a really quality football team,” Kimes said. “The fourth-down-and-2 late in the third quarter that we didn’t convert when we were still only down two scores kind of took the sails out of us.”

Parkersburg is off in Week 11 before getting back at it in the postseason.

Fisher went out in the first half with an injury and returned in the second half. Fisher finished the contest with 14 carries for 128 yards and two scores.