by Jamie Harris
Morgan Field was the site for the season ending game for the Berkeley Springs High School Indians as they hosted the Class A playoff bound Pendleton County Wildcats on Friday, November 2. Berkeley Springs was staring the possibility of finishing the season 0-10 and was hoping to use the rainy field conditions to their advantage and upset the Wildcats.
The Tribe took over on their own 20 yard line after Pendleton County kicked off into the end zone. On the first play from scrimmage the exchange between Indians quarterback Spencer Blubaugh and Payton Thompson was mishandled and the Wildcats recovered the ball on the Tribe 15 yard line.
It took the Pendleton offense only two running plays to punch the ball into the end zone for the first points of the game. The extra point was blocked and the Wildcats held a 6-0 lead.
On the ensuing kickoff, the Tribe’s Cody Fischer fielded the kickoff at the 20 yard line and returned it to the 30 yard line. Behind the running of Thompson and Blubaugh the Indians moved the ball to the Wildcat 35 yard line before turning the ball over on downs.
Pendleton County went back to the running game and moved the ball 65 yards down the field for another Wildcat touchdown. The two point conversion attempt was no good and the Tribe trailed 12-0.
Berkeley Springs took the ensuing kickoff back to their own 30 yard line before three straight running plays netted a negative five yards. The Indians lined up to punt, but the punt attempt was blocked and the Wildcats recovered the ball and took over at the Indians 20 yard line. A few plays later the Wildcats scored and this time was successful on the two point conversion attempt to increase the score to 20-0.
Berkeley Springs next offensive possession resulted in another four and out series as the Tribe turned the ball over on downs near mid field.
Pendleton once again drove down the field with their power running game and punched it in from five yards out and with another two point conversion attempt that pushed the lead to 28-0. The score would stay 28-0 as the two teams headed into the locker room.
Berkeley Springs kicked off to start the third quarter and Pendleton took over on their own 45 yard line. A 42 yard pass play quickly moved Pendleton County inside the Indians 15 yard line. One play later the Wildcats scored once again and converted the two point conversion attempt to push the score to 36-0.
Berkeley Springs was forced into a three and out on the next offensive series. A bad snap from the Tribe’s center on the punt rolled all the way back to the Indians one yard line where a Wildcat defender scooped the ball up and scored. The two point conversion was good and the Tribe trailed 44-0.
Berkeley Springs finally put together a scoring drive late in the fourth quarter as senior running back Trentin Ratcliff ripped off a 36 yard run. Later in the drive senior Ty’Jae Armstrong broke off a 33 yard run to put the Tribe inside the Wildcat 10 yard line. A few plays later Ratcliff found the end zone for the Tribe score. The Tribe was successful on the two point conversion and cut the score to 44-8.
Pendleton took the ensuing kickoff and ate up the rest of the fourth quarter clock.
With the loss the Indians fell to 0-10 for the season under first year head coach Chip Breeden.