Berkeley Springs squashes Yellow Jackets

The Berkeley Springs High School football team remained undefeated on the year, with a 41-14 pasting of visiting Moorefield on Friday, October 5 at Morgan Field.

The strong Indian running attack and a swarming defense were too much for the Yellow Jackets, who came into the game with a record of 3-2.

"I really didn't know how we would come out following the bye week," said Berkeley Springs coach Angelo Luvara. " "I thought we played very well. It was great team effort."

Once more it was the two-headed monster of Cody Reed and Cody Hess that did most of the damage for Berkeley Springs. The two senior running backs accounted for 430 of Berkeley Springs 492 yards of total offense, and six touchdowns.

"What can you say," Berkeley Springs coach Angelo Luvara said. "They are very good and give opposing defenses a fit. The offensive was moving people off of the ball and they took advantage of it. Those two were faster than anyone on Moorefield's team. There may be a better tailback and a better fullback in the state, but there is not a better tandem in the state."

Berkeley Springs received the opening kickoff and reeled off two first downs, before a Matt Colwell pass was intercepted at the Moorefield 44 yard line. The Yellow Jackets then put together an impressive nine-play drive down to the Indians' seven yard line, before the Tribe turned Moorefield away by pouncing on a Yellow Jacket fumble inside the Berkeley Springs eight yard line.

The Indians capitalized on the turnover with an 11-play drive of their own, all on the ground, capped off by a six yard touchdown run by Hess. Josh Wise nailed the extra point, giving Berkeley Springs a 7-0 lead with 2:17 remaining in the opening quarter.

Jerry Parker intercepted a Moorefield pass on the ensuing Yellow Jacket possession and two plays later the Indians extended their lead, when Reed rambled 46 yards down the right sideline for the second score of the evening.

Parker's interception came at the Berkeley Springs 47 yard line on the final play of the first quarter. Hess opened the second stanza with a 7 yard run, before Reed exploded for the long touchdown run at the 11:22 mark of the second quarter. Wise added the extra point, giving the Indians a 14-0 lead.

Berkeley Springs defense forced a three-and-out on the next Yellow Jacket possession and Sam Byrne returned the Moorefied punt out to his own 45 yard line.

The Indians took advantage of the good field position, as Reed took a handoff from Colwell, on second-and-four, and sprinted 48 yards before he was collared at the Moorefield one yard line. Hess scored on the next play and Wise added the extra point for a 21-0 lead with 8:56 remaining in the half.

Moorefield returned the Indian kickoff out to their own 33 yard line. Instead of the spread offense they had used the entire game, Moorefield came out with three backs in the backfield and seemed to cross up Berkeley Springs as they picked up back-to-back first downs on the ground, before the Indian defense stiffened and stopped the Yellow Jackets on downs at their own 39 yard line.

Reed took the first-down handoff from Colwell, made a quick cut to his right, and sprinted 61 yards for his second touchdown of the game. Wise added the extra point and the Indians had a comfortable 28-0 lead with 5:33 left before intermission.

Moorefield took over at their own 20 yard line and quickly moved in reverse when a snap from center sailed over the quarterback's head and was covered at their own one yard line. The Yellow Jackets were forced to kick from deep in their own territory and did not get off a very good punt, which was eventually downed at the Moorefield 24 yard line.

Once more Berkeley Springs took advantage of the excellent field position. Colwell connected on his first pass completion of the evening, a 15 yard strike, to JT Thomas, taking the ball down to the Moorefield nine yard line and Hess finished the drive on the ensuing play, giving the Indians an insurmountable 34-0 lead. A dead ball foul on the play resulted in a 35 yard extra point attempt that was blocked by the Yellow Jackets.

Moorefield finally solved the Indian defense and marched 76 yards in eight plays to cut the lead to 34-7 at the half. Yellow Jacket quarterback Tucker Smith kept the drive alive with a 23 yard scamper on a fourth down play from the midfield stripe. On the next play Smith hooked up with Trevor Markwood on a 27-yard scoring strike.

The two teams traded touchdowns in the second half, as the Indians substituted liberally, to make the final 41-14.

Berkeley Springs now has a three-game stretch that Luvara described as "murders row." It will start this Friday, October 12, when Keyser invades Morgan Field. Keyser, which was ranked fifth in West Virginia Class AA in last week's WVSSAC rankings, comes into town with a 5-1 record after beating Southern Garrett 55-0 last week.

"We think they are a very good football team and expect the same kind of game as last year (Berkeley Springs lost to Keyser in double overtime a year ago)," Luvara said. "The key to winning the game will be up front and how we handle their trick plays. It's going to be one heck of a football game."

The Indians then host Mountain Ridge and travel to Allegany the next two weeks, before ending the regular season at Hancock.

"We think the next three weeks are going to be telling," said Luvara. "These are three good football teams that only have two losses between them."