Randy Fluharty fights for yards as he's brought down by Braxton County
(Photos courtesy of Patty Haught)
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Calhoun ran over Braxton County Friday night - literally.
The Red Devils, now 7-2 and playoff bound, ground out 407 yards on the ground to humble the Eagles 46-13 in a game where the final score could have been a lot more lopsided.
Randy Fluharty led the way for the Red Devils with 25 carries for 204 yards and four touchdowns. But he had a lot of help as Jeremy Conley added 93 yards on nine rushes while Austin Moore added 57 yards and a touchdown, Darrenger Fluharty 52, Zach Moore 32 and a touchdown and Nick Stevens 10 and a touchdown. Overall Calhoun had 439 yards total offense and 24 first downs.
Calhoun also had 163 return yards including 83 on two pass interceptions by Sean Gungle.
In the first half the only thing that stopped Calhoun was Calhoun itself.
Darrenger Fluharty, #27, runs the ball
Senior football players celebrate win after the game on senior night
On its first possession of the game the Red Devils rolled to the four only to lose a fumble. Calhoun also had a pass intercepted in the end zone to thwart another drive while having a personal foul penalty cause another drive to stall out after getting a first and 10 at the Braxton 20.
Because of those three lost scoring opportunities Calhoun was only ahead 13-0 at the half as Fluharty scored from 38 and one yard out.
In the second half the Red Devils kicked it up a notch as two Fluharty touchdowns (11 and 7 yards) made it 26-0 at the end of three.
After Braxton got on the board with its first touchdown of the night early in the fourth quarter Calhoun scored twice more - an eight-yard run by Moore and a four-yard run by Stevens - to put things away and bring the second unit onto the field.
Jeremy Conley crosses the goal line for a Calhoun TD
Feature Twirler, senior, Ashley Conley twirls fire
at half time, her last regular season home game
Red Devil Majorettes dress for Halloween night ballgame
Braxton scored once more with its first unit against the junior varsity only to have Calhoun come back with a lightning quick 57-yard touchdown run by Austin Moore to set the final score.
Calhoun, which was ranked ninth in the latest WVSSAC rankings, at 7.38 should have a rating of 8.00 this week and still be in ninth place since every team ahead of it in the rankings won too.
The Red Devils could move in to the top eight and host a playoff game but they would need to beat St. Marys at St. Marys in the season-ending game.
Should Calhoun fail to do that it would still make the playoffs but would be on the road in the first round.
Braxton finished its season with a 3-7 record.
Kason Hupp, grandson of head coach Doyle Hupp,
tries on a helmet after Friday night huddle
See additional photos by Richard Westfall
Richard Westfall's WV Photography
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