Freshman quarterback Preston May threw 5 touchdown passes, and Bryson Elia had 4 total touchdowns as the Tug Valley Panthers traveled across the river and throttled the home standing East Ridge Warriors, 54-6, on Friday.
The Panthers (3-1) scored early when May completed a short pass to Elia. From there, Elia broke it for a 57-yard touchdown. Aiden Bosserman’s PAT kick gave Tug Valley a 7-0 lead. When the Panthers got the ball back, Elia raced into the end zone from 54 yards out. Bosserman’s kick made it 14-0.
The Warriors (2-2) cut the lead to 14-6 when Landon Robinson connected with Keaton Puckett for a 13-yard touchdown reception.
Tug Valley answered quickly as Elia took a hand off and found the end zone on a 39-yard touchdown run to make it 21-6 after Bosserman’s kick. The Panthers then scored again when May connected with Ashton Davis for a 10-yard touchdown pass. Tug Valley led 28-6 after Bosserman’s kick.
The Panthers continued to pour it on in the second quarter as May found Buddy Marcum on a 6-yard touchdown pass. Bosserman hit the PAT kick to make it 35-6. May then hit Elia for a 14-yard touchdown pass to increase the lead to 41-6. Tug Valley got one more score before the half when May found Cameron Slone deep down the sideline for a 55-yard touchdown pass to make it 48-6 at the half.
With a running clock the entire second half, the Panthers scored one last time when Jaxon Nenni-Mills connected with Gavin Fizpatrick for an 8-yard touchdown to push the lead to 54-6.
May completed 13-of-18 passes for 247 yards and 5 touchdowns. May also had 9 yards rushing on 2 carries. Nenni-Mills completed 3-of-6 passes for 18 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had 12 yards on 2 carries.
Elia had 11 carries for 107 yards and 2 touchdowns to lead Tug Valley in rushing. Cane Thompson added 12 yards on 4 carries.
Elia also led the Panthers in receiving with 4 catches for 105 yards and 2 touchdowns. Slone had 4 catches for 89 yards and 1 touchdown. Marcum had 3 catches for 36 yards and 1 touchdown. Davis hauled in 2 passes for 17 yards and 1 touchdown. Fitzpatrick snagged 2 passes for 9 yards and 1 touchdown. Cane Thompson finished with 1 catch for 9 yards.
For East Ridge, Landon Robinson completed 4-of-7 passes for 26 yards and 1 touchdown. Cole Ratliff completed 3-of-8 passes for 42 yards.
Isaiah Adkins carried the ball 6 times for 34 yards. Hayden Perkins had 1 carry for 23 yards. Steven Layne finished with 12 yards on 7 carries.
Adkins caught 2 passes for 45 yards. Puckett snagged 3 passes for 20 yards and 1 touchdown. Layne caught 1 pass for 4 yards.
Tug Valley has a bye next week before hosting rival Tolsia the following week.
East Ridge will host Jenkins on Friday at 7:30 pm.
Photo Courtesy of Karen Watts
