By Dan Cosgrove
With a total or 110 points being put on the board, Calhoun squeaked out 2 more points then Wirt to win a hard fought game.
The hot chocolate was moving fast at the concession stand on Thursday as Calhoun took on the Wirt's White Tigers. They call it football weather. To me it was just cold and wet, which may account for the fumbles and incomplete passes.
Calhoun kicked to Wirt to start the game. The White Tigers quickly went 4 and out and had to punt to Calhoun. Calhoun started on Wirt's 47-yard line. Darrenger Fluharty only needed 20 yards to go over 1,000 for the season (he had 980 in four games).
Darrenger Fluharty
Photo by Patty Haught
On first down, Fluharty fought hard for 13 yards. He was stopped on his next run, and his third carry for the night went over the 1,000 mark as he carried the ball to the 11-yard line. On the next play, he ran it in for his first of six touchdown of the night.
Calhoun then kicked it to Wirt who ran it back 70 yards to tie the game 6-6. The outcome of the game would come down to who would make the 2-point conversions, and it started with both teams missing their first attempts.
Calhoun fumbled on their next possession with Wirt recovering and taking advantage of the turnover. In just a few downs they completed a pass for a touchdown. They also made the first 2-point conversion of the night with a quarterback sneak and now led 14 - 6.
Fluharty was able tack on another 50 yards on 4 runs before the first quarter ended.
Early in the 2nd quarter, with Calhoun on Wirt's 35 and looking at a 3rd and 20, quarterback Justin Yoak completed a pass for 30 yards. Metz was able to run the last 5 yards on the next play for a touchdown. No extra points. Still down, 14 - 12.
There was a player on Wirt's team that Calhoun fans would just call the "Big Boy." He would plow through Calhoun lines, carrying the ball and half of Calhoun's players.
He made first downs after first downs. However, at a key moment Fluharty focused on him and made a big hit resulting in a fumble that was recovered by Calhoun.
On the very next play Fluharty ran 78 yards for a TD. He also made the conversion and Calhoun took the lead 20 to 14.
Calhoun never fell behind again in the game.
Wirt was able to tie the game before the end of the half making it 20-20, but with 31 seconds left Fluharty ran 40 yards for another touchdown. With another 2-point play, Calhoun was leading 28-20.
Wirt had 15 seconds before the end of the half. They made a long run that looked like they might run it in, but Fluharty made the saving tackle. Then with 32 yards in front of them, Nathan Cosgrove made a great tackle to end the half.
The third quarter was about on-side kicks, the "Big Boy" moving the ball and Wirt finding a way to tie the game up again at 34-34 (Metz had made another touchdown).
With 2:31 left in the third, both teams made another touchdown, but only Calhoun made the 2-point conversion. The third quarter ended with Calhoun leading by two, 42-40.
Calhoun had the ball to start the 4th quarter, and on the first play, 1st and 10 on the 50-yard line, Fluharty ran the 50 yards for another touchdown. Now it was 48 to 40.
Wirt started their drive on their own 48-yard line. They moved the ball down field.
There were flags, fumbles, and incomplete passes, but the ball kept moving closer and closer to the goal line. Wirt was 4th and goal on the 12-yard line.
They tried a pass, but although it was caught, the receiver was put down at the 1-yard line. Calhoun quickly took over and just as quickly fumbled the ball. Wirt was able to make a touchdown on the turnover, but again missed the 2-point conversion and were down 48-46.
Wirt tried another on-side kick. The ball didn't make it the 10 yards, plus there was a personal foul on Wirt, and Calhoun started their drive on Wirt's 25-yard line.
Fluharty quickly ran the 25 yards for a touchdown and made the 2-point conversion. Calhoun was up by 10 points: 56-46.
Wirt was able to score one more time and got within 2 points. With less then a minute left in the game, Calhoun was able to kneel the remaining seconds for the win. Final score 56-54.
Eight-grade student Emily Bain led the Calhoun cheerleaders to another outstanding night of cheering.
Calhoun Middle School football's number one fan finally took the field. Since the beginning of the season, 10-year old Jasmine Fluharty would be the biggest (and loudest) supporter in the stands.
When the cheerleaders would require a response from the fans, Jasmine would always lead the way. During the game she was able to help the team more directly. She carried the water to the players on the field and even joined them in their huddles.
Every team would be lucky to have a fan like her.
Come out next Thursday and support the team at their final home game of the season, as they take on our southern neighbor, Clay. | 
