Winfield Nips Wayne
By Trace Johnson
The Winfield Generals outlasted the Wayne Pioneers 23-22 Friday night while clinching the team’s third straight come-from-behind victory on the season.
A Jordan McVey 24-yard field goal with 5:12 remaining in the game gave the Generals (3-1) a 23-22 lead it would not relinquish as the defense prevented Wayne (1-3) from getting the lead back.
Winfield started the game with a bang as quarterback Andrew Huff connected with Jackson Van Scoy for a 15-yard touchdown strike to give the Generals an early 6-0 lead with 8:22 remaining in the first quarter.
The Pioneers responded with a K.J. Mills 38-yard touchdown run to tie the game at 6 with 4:28 remaining in the first quarter.
The Generals wasted little time to respond and on their first offensive play following that Wayne touchdown, Huff connected with Chris Farha for a 53-yard touchdown to give Winfield a 13-6 lead with 4:11 remaining in the first quarter.
Mid-way through the second quarter, Wayne blocked a Winfield punt. But where the punt hit a Wayne player, the Generals recovered to give the offense the ball back.
Winfield took advantage and Trystan Willard found the end zone from 4 yards out to extend the Generals’ lead to 20-6 with 5:46 remaining of the second quarter.
The Pioneers answered right back with another Mills touchdown run, this time from 4 yards out, to cut Winfield’s lead to 20-14 with 3:11 remaining until halftime.
Wayne threatened to score as the first half came to a close, but the Generals’ defense held the Pioneers and Winfield took a 20-14 lead into halftime.
The third quarter saw both teams slow down offensively. But early in the fourth quarter, Wayne’s Devin Hall found the end zone from 5 yards out to give the Pioneers their first lead of the game at 22-20 with 9:04 remaining of the fourth quarter after Mills ran in the ensuing 2-point conversion.
The Generals responded and after McVey connected on a 24-yard field goal, Winfield had the lead back at 23-22 with 5:12 remaining in the game.
Winfield’s defense came up with what would be the game-winning stop on Wayne’s ensuing offensive possession.
The Pioneers had a fourth-and-8 from the Winfield 17-yard line, but the Generals’ defense forced an incomplete pass and the offense took over with just over three minutes remaining in the game.
Winfield’s offense would successfully run out the remaining time to secure a hard-fought 23-22 victory.
With the win, the Generals clinched their third straight come-from-behind win. Winfield trailed Scott by 20 points on Sept. 2 and came back to win 34-20 and trailed Herbert Hoover 41-17 in the third quarter on Sept. 16 only to come back and win 51-48.
Winfield returns to action Sept. 30 at home against Sissonville for homecoming. Wayne returns to action Sept. 30 at home against Mingo Central.
