The Red Devils take the field
Darrenger Fluharty #38 runs the ball, # 7 is Randy Fluharty
Photos courtesy of Patty Haught
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
A couple of turnovers here and a couple of missed tackles there ... minor things all. But against a team that plays as well as Parkersburg Catholic does, minor things can mean a lot and that's exactly what happened Friday night as the Crusaders handed Calhoun County its first loss of the season - 39-29 - ruining the Red Devils' homecoming.
Jake Brunoni scored three touchdowns from PCHS while Cole Cwynar added a pair. Geno Demaio also had a pair of field goals for the 3-0 Crusaders.
For Calhoun four players got into the scoring act as Cory Metz, Darrenger Fluharty, Randy Fluharty and Bronson Clark all scored. Ironically all scored from long distance as Metz had a 46-yard score, Randy Fluharty scored from 45 and Darrenger Fluharty from 44. Clark caught a 24-yard pass from Zack Moore for Calhoun's final touchdown.
The game was close throughout but probably more so in the first half when it took a Demaio field goal with no time left on the clock to give the Crusaders a 15-13 lead.
Red Devil Cheerleaders enthuse the crowd while Zach Moore
kicks an extra point with #15 Bronson Clark holding the ball
After spotting PCHS a lead - on a pass to Cwynar - Calhoun bounced back to take the lead 7-6 on Darrenger Fluharty's scoring run. The difference was Moore hit the extra point for Calhoun while Demaio did not.
After PCHS regained the lead on a short run by Brunoni Calhoun came right back on Metz' long run out of the power-I.
It stood that way until Demaio's kick.
#4 Zach Moore (above) and #45 Cory
Metz (below) running the ball
Calhoun once again grabbed the upper hand when Randy Fluharty broke loose for a 45-yard score on the Red Devils' first possession of the second half.
But that's when a combination of little things tripped up the 3-1 Red Devils.
First PCHS regained the lead 22-21 when Cwynar scored on a seven-yard pass from Jason Williams.
Then came a fumble.
And PCHS took advantage.
This drive, which ended right before the start of the fourth quarter, saw the Crusaders pound through some tackles en route to Brunoni's score making it 29-21.
A Demaio field goal on PCHS' next possession put the Crusaders up by more than one possession, 32-21, paving the way for yet another scoring drive that essentially put things away with about two minutes to play. Brunoni's short scoring run made it 39-21 and pretty well sealed the deal even though the Red Devils did unveil a passing attack that was highlighted by the combination of Moore to Justin Gerwig.
Gerwig, a senior in his first year of football, had two receptions for 63 yards on that drive setting up Moore's pass to Clark for the final score. Gerwig also had a pass interception for the Red Devils in the second quarter.
Catholic dominated most statistics with 36 first downs to Calhoun's 12. The Crusaders also had more total yardage than Calhoun 417-329.
Randy Fluharty led Calhoun with 88 yards on 14 carries while Darrenger Fluharty added 63 and Metz 51. Brunoni had game honors with 150 on 28 attempts.
Calhoun will try to bounce back at Williamstown next Friday while PCHS will seek to remain undefeated when it entertains first-year program Trinity next Saturday.
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