Sissonville holds off Winfield
By Trace Johnson
The Sissonville Indians nipped the Winfield Generals 28-26 Friday night to spoil the Generals’ homecoming and end their three-game winning streak.
Winfield’s (3-2) offense had the ball with under one-minute remaining with hopes of winning the game, but Sissonville’s (4-1) defense came up with a huge stop on fourth down to clinch the win in a game between two teams that came in tied for ninth in the WVSSAC Class AA playoff rankings.
Sissonville struck first when Austin Cook found the end zone from 12 yards out to give the Indians an early 6-0 lead with 6:47 remaining in the first quarter.
The Generals wasted little time responding when Andrew Huff connected with Chris Farha for a 12-yard touchdown to take a 7-6 lead with 2:16 remaining in the first quarter.
Winfield added to its lead when Huff found the end zone with his feet from 1 yard out to extend the lead to 13-6 with 10:55 remaining in the second quarter.
After an Indians turnover, the Generals’ offense took over at its own 28-yard line. Winfield took advantage when Huff found the end zone with his feet again, this time from 5 yards out, to extend the lead to 20-6 with 7:15 remaining of the second quarter.
Sissonville took advantage of a great punt that pinned Winfield at its own 1-yard line when Caleb Whittington recovered a Generals fumble in the end zone for an Indians touchdown to cut Winfield’s lead down to 20-12 with 5:33 remaining in the second quarter.
After a defensive stand, Sissonville’s offense got the ball and marched it down the field. Chance Brown found the end zone from 13 yards out to tie the game at 20 with 3:13 remaining in the second quarter after a successful 2-point conversion attempt.
That score held and the teams went to the locker rooms tied at 20 at halftime. The third quarter saw both teams slow down offensively, but early in the fourth quarter, Sissonville took its first lead of the game.
Bryce Taylor found the end zone from 28 yards out to give the Indians a 28-20 lead with 11:51 remaining in the fourth quarter after a successful 2-point conversion attempt.
The Generals responded with another Huff 1-yard touchdown run to cut Sissonville’s lead to 28-26 with 9:16 remaining in the fourth quarter.
After a few changes of possession, Winfield’s offense took over at its own 21-yard line with 1:51 remaining in the game.
The Generals got the ball across midfield, but after an incomplete pass on fourth down, Sissonville had iced the game. The Indians ran out the remaining seconds to secure a 28-26 victory.
Sissonville returns to action Oct. 7 at Herbert Hoover and Winfield returns to action Oct. 7 on the road at Nitro.
