Paul Goodrich rushes across the goal for one of ...
three TDs he made during game (shown here at rear of photo)
Tyler Shartiger flyin' high for a TD
The Red Devils are on the map to play-offs
(Hur Herald Photos)
Red Devils Up Record To 7-1 With 33-6 Win
Play-Off Berth Earned
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
With three starters nursing injuries Calhoun played a matter-of-fact game
and came away with a 33-6 win over Wirt County Friday night at Mount Zion,
clinching the Red Devils first playoff berth since 1983.
The Red Devils were without the services of seniors Steven Cunningham,
Chad Conley and Justin Whipkey for most of the game while Wirt went into
the contest without starting quarterback Josh Valentine.
With much of its senior leadership on the sidelines the Red Devils did
what they do best and unleashed a crushing running game on the Tigers.
Paul Goodrich led the way for the Red Devils with 256 yards rushing and
three touchdowns on 27 carries. He also had an 80-yard scoring run called
back by penalty.
Calhoun got its other two touchdowns from Tyler Shartiger and Jeff
Goodrich.
Calhoun started out slowly by driving the ball into Wirt territory and
fumbling.
But after the Tigers failed to do anything the Red Devils unleashed a long
drive on the Tigers with Goodrich scoring on a three-yard run with 1:24
remaining in the first quarter.
Calhoun pushed the lead out to 14-0 when Matt Houchin and Shartiger teamed
up for a 50-yard touchdown.
The Red Devils made it 21-0 just before the end of the third quarter when
Paul Goodrich scored from six yards out to cap a 90-yard drive.
The Red Devils continued to pound the Tigers after intermission as Paul
Goodrich added his third touchdown, this time on a 15-yard run. The extra
point conversion failed leaving Calhoun on top 27-0.
Calhoun pushed the score out to 33-0 with 5:34 remaining in the game as
Jeff Cunningham, filling in for the injured Conley, broke up the middle
and outran the Wirt defenders for a 35-yard score. On the game Jeff
Cunningham had 64 yards on six carries.
Wirt avoided the shutout with a late score when Clint Stanley hit Chase
Mills from 15-yards out in a lightning quick drive against the Red Devil
reserves.
With the win Calhoun goes to 7-1 on the season while Wirt dropped to 5-4.
Calhoun improves to 8.125 in the WVSSAC Class A rankings with the win but
may not move up the standings from eighth place since most of the teams
ranked ahead of it won. Pending the outcome of Saturday's game between
seventh-ranked Parkersburg Catholic and Matewan, the only team ranked in
the top eight to lose was Wheeling Central Catholic, which lost to
second-ranked Class AA Weir, 25-6.
Unless Central garners a lot of bonus points Calhoun will move ahead of
it. Should Parkersburg Catholic lose to Matewan the Red Devils will pass
the Crusaders too.
Calhoun is at Braxton next Friday night.
| 
