ELKINS — ELKINS - West Fork took an early three-touchdown lead and then hung on to clinch a share of the Class 1-3A title in a 21-12 victory over Elkins at John Burch Jr. Memorial Field.
The Tigers (6-2, 5-0) scored 21 consecutive points early, but had to overcome four turnovers and just 20 second-half yards in the win.
“We didn’t play particularly well late, but we played good enough,” West Fork Coach Rodney Selph said. “That should have secured us the one seed, so the kids are really excited about that. That gives us a chance to play at home two weeks in a row, which would be really nice.”
West Fork running back Wil Jarnagan ran for 81 yards on 12 carries, but left the contest in the second quarter with a mild concussion. Starter Logan Genzdidn’t play due to mononucleosis. The Tigers racked up 247 yards in the first half but struggled to move the ball after halftime.
“We had our two leading rushers standing over there by us,” Selph said. “It was rough there for a while.”
Elkins signal caller Robert Teague threw two interceptions and had just five yards passing in the first half. The Elks (6-3, 4-2) inserted junior Mac Leichner at quarterback in the second half and the junior completed 8 of 14 passes for 137 yards, but threw three costly interceptions.
Leichner’s 1-yard touchdown run capped an 11-play, 87-yard drive and cut the Tigers’ lead to 21-6 with 1:34 left in the third quarter after Elkins failed to convert the two-point conversion.
The Elks started three fourth-quarter possessions in West Fork territory, but mustered just one scoring drive.
Elkins running back Chad Curry’s 2-yard run with 5:09 left pulled the Elks within 21-12. Leichner was injured on the drive and Teague threw incomplete on the Elkins’ twopoint conversion.
West Fork quarterback Dylan Harrison fumbled the snap on the Tigers’ following drive and Elks senior Jonathon Teague recovered at the West Fork 30. Leichner re-entered the contest, and Elkins advanced to the Tigers’ 11-yard line but turned the ball over on downs.
The Elks had the ball in West Fork territory with less than one minute remaining, but Leichner threw his third interception of the second half.
Sports, Pages 28 on 10/30/2010