Hurricane shocks Midland in final seconds
By Trace Johnson
A late touchdown helped propel the Hurricane Redskins to a thrilling and emotional 34-31 victory on Sept. 9 over the Cabell Midland Knights to break a five-game losing streak to the Knights.
Redskins quarterback Dylan Plumley’s 3-yard touchdown run with just 9 seconds remaining in the game gave Hurricane (3-0) a lead it would not relinquish.
Midland (1-2) jumped out to a quick 7-0 lead after an Ivan Vaughn 7-yard touchdown run with 9:44 remaining in the first quarter.
The Knights added to their lead in the second quarter when Korah Booker found the end zone from 7 yards out to extend Midland’s lead to 14-0 with 8:47 remaining in the second quarter. But from that point on, the Redskins got things rolling.
Hurricane’s offense responded with a James McDougale 7-yard touchdown run to cut Midland’s lead down to 14-7 with 7:07 remaining in the second quarter.
On the Knights’ ensuing possession, Hurricane’s Charlie Womack recovered a fumble to give the Redskins’ offense the ball at its own 37-yard line. Hurricane responded with a 1-yard touchdown run by Peyton Lunsford that tied the game at 14 with 1:37 remaining in the second quarter.
Midland kicker Matthew Molina ended the half with a 35-yard field goal to give the Knights a 17-14 lead at halftime.
Mid-way through the third quarter, McDougale found the end zone again for the Redskins. But this time, an 89-yard touchdown run to give Hurricane its first lead of the game at 21-17 with 6:20 remaining in the third quarter.
On Midland’s next possession, Hurricane’s Isaiah Thomas recovered a fumble deep in Redskin territory to give the offense the ball at its own 5-yard line. And two plays later, McDougale outraced the defense for a 95-yard touchdown run to extend Hurricane’s lead to 28-17 with 3:55 remaining in the third quarter.
Midland responded immediately and Vaughn found the end zone from 20 yards out to cut Hurricane’s lead down to 28-24 with 2:35 remaining in the third quarter. Mid-way through the fourth quarter, the Knights took the lead back when Vaughn again found the end zone, this time from 11 yards, to give Midland a 31-28 lead with 7:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After a couple changes of possession, Hurricane’s offense had the ball at its own 44-yard line with 1:47 remaining in the game. And after a long drive, Plumley found the end zone from 3 yards out to give the Redskins a 34-31 lead with just 9 seconds remaining in the game.
