Photos by Clear Blue Skys Studio
Although Friday night brought Calhoun’s second loss of the season against Valley Wetzel Lumberjacks of Pine Grove, West Virginia, it was not with providing excitement for the fans who watched as their much loved hometeam played hard for Head Coach Jeff Goodrich. However, their efforts could not overcome the Lumberjacks who averageded over 26 points per game throughout last years season eason (and averaged 41 points per game in wins) returning for the 23 season with many of their seasoned players.
As the game began the night looked promising as Calhoun’s Owen Taylor and Landon Hardway brought down #3 Gavin Derby, who ended up being a force to be reckoned with as the evening progressed. The first quarter was back and forth as Calhoun fumbled on multiple occasions with Valley taking full advantage with a touchdown brought in by #1 Dallas Preat.
Following Valley’s score, #0 Adam Hughes and #20 Jayton Gibson stepped up their game with multiple carries, getting within 5 yards of the goalline before #3 Gavin Derby recovered the ball at the end of the first quarter preventing Calhoun’s score.
The second quarter of the game began again with Landon Hardway bringing down the Lumberjacks as well as players downed by Adam Hughes and Landon Richard, and knocked out of bounds by Brennen Carpenter. An interception by #20 Jayton Gibson brought the fans to life. Several flags were thrown throughout the night on plays, but none so contested by the fans as a “horsecollar” against Gibson by #1 Dallas Preat, although the Refs did not agree.
Calhoun’s #14 Owen Taylor put the first score on the board in the Second order with a beautifully executed bootleg and a fieldgoal kicked in my #6 Gabe Waldron, bringing the score to 7 Calhoun/6 Valley Wetzell.
As the game progressed, Calhoun’s #87 Logan Tingler, #52 Trenton Nelon, and #14 Owen Taylor brought the Lumberjacks down but could not prevent, Valley Wetzell’s #3 Gavin Derby and #17 Lane Dallison from scoring two additional touchdowns, even as game officials threw multiple flags on Valley’s players.
More fumbles, incomplete passes and more recoveries by Valley lead to the halftime score of Calhoun 7, Valley Wetzell 20.
Jayton Gibson, #20 scored the second of Calhoun’s touchdowns bringing the score to Calhoun 13/Valley 20 in the 3rd quarter. Working hard, Owen Taylor, Adam Hughes and Logan Tingler brought down Valley players but with 10 yards to go, a fumble on the play recovered by Valley brought their next touch down by #3 Gavin Derby and a 2 point conversion by #80 Landon Jerico. The score now at Calhoun 13, Valley Wetzel 28.
Ending out the third quarter, Jayton Gibson brought in another touchdown but in a moment of overexcitement, he spiked the ball in the endzone resulting in a 15 yard penality against Calhoun but the touchdown remained making the score Calhoun 19/Valley 28 at the end of the third quarter.’Ending out the third quarter, Jayton Gibson brought in another touchdown but in a moment of overexcitement, he spiked the ball in the endzone resulting in a 15 yard penality against Calhoun but the touchdown remained making the score Calhoun 19/Valley 28 at the end of the third quarter.
In the final quarter of the game Adam Hughes, Tyler Nelson, Trenton Nelson and Landon Richards pulled down player after player, but #1 Dallas Preat scored again bringing the score to Calhoun 19/Valley 34.
More flags, more discussion on the field by the officials and the final score of the game was made by Brennen Carpenter as he caught a pass from Owen Taylor in the endzone. Calhoun left the field with a respectable game final score of Calhoun 25, Valley Wetzel 34.
