The 7th seed (Class AA) Mingo Central Miners saw their season come to an end as they fell, 28-21, to the 10th seed Philip Barbour Colts during the opening round of the state playoffs on Friday at Buck Harless Stadium on Miner Mountain.
The Miners (8-3) got on the scoreboard early as Dylan Vance scored on a 2-yard run with 8:30 left in the first period. Vance’s PAT kick made the score 7-0. In the closing seconds of the period, Chris Ross completed a 15-yard touchdown pass to Vance to make it a 13-0 lead.
Philip Barbour (9-2) fired back in the second period as Kaden Humphreys scored on a 40-yard run to make it a 13-7 game.
Mingo Central answered back later in the quarter when Ross connected with Malaki Sheppard on a 62-yard pass for a touchdown. Ross then completed a conversion pass to Sheppard to make the score 21-7.
The Colts made the score 21-14 at the half when Humphreys hit Trenton Bodkins on a 15-yard touchdown pass.
Philip Barbour tied the contest, 21-21, early in the third period when Humphreys picked off Ross and raced 30 yards into the end zone for a touchdown.
The Miners’ offense sputtered during the second half with Ross injured, but they still kept fighting. Philip Barbour took the lead with 4:19 left in the game on a 1-yard Nathaniel Hulver run.
Mingo Central was able to drive the ball down the field but came up short as the Colts moved on to the second round.
Ross completed 11-of-18 passes for 163 yards, 2 touchdowns and 1 interception. He also had 6 carries for 32 yards. Aidan Burke completed 1 pass for 63 yards while catching 2 passes for 8 yards.
Vance had 21 carries for 116 yards and 1 touchdown. He also caught 2 passes for 38 yards and 1 touchdown. Donavon Valdelamar finished with 1 carry for 8 yards.
Sheppard had 4 catches for 70 yards and 1 touchdown. Tyler Mitchem had 70 yards on 2 catches. Deucey Prater caught 2 passes for 10 yards.
For Philip Barbour, Humphreys had 22 carries for 129 yards and 1 touchdown. He also had an interception return for a score. Hulver had 19 carries for 119 yards and 1 touchdown.
The Colts will now travel to 2nd seed Fairmont Senior.
Photo Courtesy of Samantha Waine
