By Stephen Smoot
Last Friday, Pendleton County traveled across the state line and went deep into the Old Dominion to take on the Chargers of Bath County. They had little trouble building a lead and keeping distance between the Wildcats and Chargers with a final score of 33-12.
On paper, Bath County appeared a serious opponent for the fourth ranked Wildcats in West Virginia Class A. They racked up impressive wins against Stonewall Jackson (a future opponent of Pendleton County), Tygarts Valley, and Hancock, but also dropped a 50-0 loss to Buffalo Gap.
Pendleton County had dropped a decision to Tucker County last week. They rode into Parsons short-handed from injury, but lost another key player prior to the Bath contest.
Wildcat opponents have fared well, for the most part, so far this season. Keyser, who was humbled in Franklin 48-34, has put together a five game winning streak and, as of last week, had risen to 11 in Class AAA. Their lowest margin of victory came against Weir, a 28-point win.
Pendleton County has four victories and two losses on the year with four contests remaining in the regular season. Friday’s away game against the Pocahontas County Warriors brings up a one and five team that lost 46-14 to Wirt County last week. After that comes the Stonewall Jackson Generals who have a one and six record for the season, but whose size confers Class AA points for the game.
Moorefield on Halloween night and Cameron the next week round out the schedule. The lesson that the Wildcats should learn was taught well by Moorefield when they upended Tucker County in brutal fashion last week, their first win to the Mountain Lions’ initial loss.
Against Bath County, the Wildcats took care of business. They posted 341 yards of total offense, with 212 yards coming from Colton Roberson’s 10 of 14 passing night. The quarterback also rushed for 91 yards on only 11 attempts. He threw for three touchdowns and ran for another.
Roberson on defense led the team with 15 tackles and an interception returned for 25 yards.
Braylon Willis also demonstrated increasing comfort in the backfield, rushing 11 times and picking up 38 yards, plus a touchdown.
Cameron Wyatt led receivers with two catches for 94 yards and a pair of touchdowns. Travis Owens caught five for 88 while Chase Owens pulled in five for 30 and a touchdown.
The defense stifled Bath County for much of the game, limiting the team to 111 yards passing and 160 rushing the ball. Ty Heavner earned the second most tackles with 13, Chase Owens 10, Britton Lough 12, Spencer Hartman eight, Sam Eason, seven, David Noble four, Wyatt Hoyt three, Travis Owens three, Corbin Dove two, and Noah Lockard and Cayson Armstrong with one each.
