CALHOUN MIDDLE CRUSHES DODDRIDGE 66-0

(08/31/2012)
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net

Christopher Kirkland kicked off for Calhoun Middle School in the first half Thursday night.

Why is this noteworthy?

Because Kirkland is the backup kicker behind Seth Moore. But Moore is a two-way starter on offense and defense and whenever the CMS coaches can give Moore a breather they do.

So when Kirkland kicked off with 5:40 to go before halftime that meant Moore was getting a breather … one of many breathers he was able to get in the Red Devils' 66-0 romp over Doddridge in a game played at West Union.

Moore was able to get a breather on kickoffs because he led the Red Devils with three touchdowns in the lopsided affair. But he was not alone in the scoring parade as Johnny Hart and Allen Matheny had two touchdowns and Caden Hicks, Jacob Holcomb and Soney Wilson all added one.

Moore only carried the ball five times but he had 125 yards rushing and what should have been five touchdowns, had not a couple been called back by penalties. Moore, interestingly, was not tackled in the game as he scored on runs of 4, 15 and 50 yards.

His two first quarter scores gave the Red Devils a 16-0 lead and the rout was on early.

Holcomb got the Devils going in the second quarter with a 19-yard scoring run then Hicks returned a punt 26 yards for a score and a 32-0 lead bringing Kirkland in from the sidelines.

An 11-yard run by Hart and a 31-yard pass interception touchdown by Matheny put the Red Devils on top 46-0 at halftime.

Matheny added a 64-yard interception return in the fourth quarter and Moore (50-yard run) and Wilson (seven-yard run) capped off the scoring in the final period.

Offensively Calhoun on ran 22 plays (all runs including four kneel-downs at the end of the game) and came away with 225 yards offense.

However, as impressive as Calhoun's offense was it had to take a back seat to the defense as Calhoun held the Bobcats to minus 52 yards total offense on the 34 plays they ran. In the game Doddridge had only seven of its plays go for positive yards. The Bobcats only first downs came on Calhoun penalties in the second half.

Unofficially Matheny and Moore led the defense with 10 tackles each as Connor Ritchie and Chris 'Thumper" Thornton had nine apiece.

Holcomb and Samuel Poore were in on five tackles each.

Calhoun, now 1-0, returns to action next Thursday at Gilmer County.

Doddridge, 0-1, is host to Lumberport.