The Shadow
LEAPING GRAB — Covington’s Kashawn Carter (21) makes a catch in front of Pendleton County defender Matthew Dove (9) Friday night at Casey Field. (Lesley Nickell Photo)
LEAPING GRAB — Covington’s Kashawn Carter (21) makes a catch in front of Pendleton County defender Matthew Dove (9) Friday night at Casey Field. (Lesley Nickell Photo)
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Nothing like a six-win team to grab your attention.
The Covington Cougars amped up the intensity Friday in a “Pink Out” night 33-12 win over Pendleton County, W.Va.
The Cougars recognized October as Breast Cancer Awareness Month in pregame activities, then made their West Virginia guests quite aware of their presence once the action began.
The Cougars got big plays on both sides of the ball and sprinkled in a special teams touchdown for good measure as they improved to 4-3 on the season. They now set their sights on undefeated Parry McCluer next week in another Casey Field showdown.
“We talked about it in pregame. If you need to be pushed to get up for a game like this, you’re in the wrong business,” said Covington coach Rod Tenney.
The Wildcats ventured across the state line with a 6-1 mark but left Virginia with a second straight setback.
“We’ve been telling them how this could vault us a good bit,” Tenney continued.
“The victory points would be a big step toward getting us in the top eight or higher.
That was our reasoning. If you need help getting up for this one, then you shouldn’t be playing football.”
The Cougars and Wildcats traded first-quarter touchdowns in this catfight.
After the Cougars spotted their guests an early lead on a Timothy Hevener 8-yard run, the Covington countered with their first big play of the evening.
Raquann Matthews went 52 yards to tie it, cutting back against the grain and diving into the end zone for the score.
The Wildcats scored both of their touchdowns off Covington turnovers, and they were back in the end zone early in the second quarter.
Hevener hit Logan Cooper on a 28-yard touchdown pass giving the Wildcats a short-lived 12-6 lead.
Four plays later, the Cougars had the lead for good. Kashawn Carter rambled 38 yards to paydirt, and Derek Dressler kicked the point, giving the Cougars a 13-12 lead.
A Carter interception — he had three on the night — had the Cougars back in business a little later.
Matthews went high over a Pendleton County defender to haul in a 29-yard pass from Luke Moye, and Dressler’s placement made it 20-12.
Pendleton County marched to the Covington 14 a little later in the quarter, but they turned it over on downs after four straight Hevener incompletions.
Taking over with 3:42 remaining on the first half clock, the Cougars marched 86 yards to cap a big 20-point second quarter.
Several highlights in the 10-play, 86-yard drive included work out of the Covington polecat formation by Noah Fertig. He ran for 28 yards, then hooked up with Matthews on consecutive throws for 32 and 19 yards.
Moye capped the drive with a 3-yard touchdown pass to Tyler Dressler that gave the Cougars a 26-12 lead at the half.
The Cougars defense went to work in the second half, and consecutive sacks by Ashton Oyler and James Switzer set the stage for the only points of the second half.
Forced to punt on 4th-and-25 from their own 23, the snap sailed over the head of Pendleton punter Tyler Shears, and Switzer fell on it in the end zone for a touchdown.
“He almost had an interception, too,” said Tenney in reference to the work of Switzer, who recorded three sacks on the night. “James played very well.”
In addition to Carter’s three picks, Trever Jack also had an interception for the Covington defense.
Hevener handled the ball on 61 of Pendleton County’s 71 offensive snaps, but the Cougars were able to keep him in check for most of the evening. He ran 22 times for 18 yards and completed 17-of-39 for 226 yards and a touchdown.
“(Hevener) is a talented runner and thrower, and we knew we were going to have to contain him,” Tenney said. “We did a pretty good job.”
The only downside to an upbeat evening for the Cougars was the loss of lineman John Roldan, who suffered a lower leg injury and was taken to the hospital in an ambulance.
“When he’s not on the field, he’s the biggest cheerleader that we have,” Tenney said. “It doesn’t matter who’s out there, he’s behind them.
“The fact that he’s a senior — I hate that he’s not going to be able to finish the season with us,” Tenney added. “He’s a lot of the heart and soul of what we do.”
Moye had 71 yards on the ground to lead the Cougars. He also completed 8-of-17 throws for 84 yards and a pair of scores. Matthews finished his night with five catches for 98 yards.
While the pass-happy Wildcats presented a challenge for the Cougars, the 8-0 Blues will bring a totally different style of play to Covington next week, and the Cougars will be out to avenge a tough 29-27 loss last year in Buena Vista.
“Three yards and a cloud of dust,” said Tenney, referencing the Blues. “We’ve had to play them twice on the road, and we had a great ballgame over there last year. We’re looking for a chance to even things up.”
