The Shadow
NEW CASTLE - Stopping Troy Helton – it’s much easier said than done.
Helton posted his second consecutive 300-yard performance as he led Covington into clinching at least a share of the Pioneer District title with a 21-7 road win over Craig County Friday night.
Helton’s stat line included 30 carries for 318 yards and three touchdowns in more than unfavorable conditions. The junior quarterback has rushed for 632 yards and eight TDs on 61 carries in Covington’s past two games.
With a win next Friday in their regular season finale at home against the Parry McCluer Fighting Blues, the Cougars can clinch their first outright Pioneer District title since 1999.
Craig County made things interesting though as they took the opening kickoff and drove 67 yards in 10 plays.
The Rockets (3-6, 0-3 Pioneer) faced a 4th-and-2 at the Cougars 41, but quarterback Derek Persinger gained four yards on a QB sneak to move the chains.
Five plays later, Persinger bulled in from a yard out and Jefferson Lee’s placement gave the Rockets a 7-0 lead with 7:40 left on the first quarter clock.
Covington could not answer the call and was forced to punt after three offensive plays and turned the ball over on downs at their own 43 on their next possession after Helton came up a chain link short on 4th-and-2.
Facing a short field, the Covington defense pushed the Rockets backwards and forced them to punt.
The Cougars started their third possession at their own 20 and Helton rambled 59 yards down to the Craig County 21.
Three plays later the junior punched it in from six yards out and Derek Dressler’s PAT knotted the score at seven with 11:44 left in the first half.
The Cougars would start their final possession of the first half at their own 33 following a short punt by Craig County.
All it took was three Helton runs to cover 67 yards, the latter going for 45, to put Covington on top 13-7 after the snap on the PAT was bobbled.
Helton finished the first half with 183 yards and two scores on 13 carries.
Covington got the ball to open the second half and Helton picked up where he left off.
Starting at their own 41 after Jacorey Hughes pounced on the onside kick attempt, Helton covered 12 yards on three carries to move the chains inside Rocket territory.
Charlie Dickson would pick up a tough three yards on first down and two plays later, the shifty QB broke loose for a 46-yard touchdown run.
Helton was stopped on the first ensuing two-point conversion attempt, but the Rockets were whistled for a horse collar infraction and the Cougars would get another shot. Helton made it count this time, bulling in for the conversion and increasing Covington’s lead to 21-7 with 8:46 left in the third quarter.
The Rockets had a number of chances in the second half to put points on the board.
A Covington roughing-the-passer penalty on fourth down extended a Rockets drive that went down to the CHS 19 before Persinger was picked off by Helton.
Craig County would then take over at the Covington two-yard line after bad snap on a punt sailed over C.J. Holloway’s head and Holloway had to pounce fall on the loose ball to prevent further damage.
The Rockets coughed the ball up on the ensuing play and Helton came up with the loose ball and the Cougars would run out the clock to preserve the win.
“It’s a good win in conditions like this. It was tough for both teams,” said a soaking wet Covington coach Steve Dressler following the win. “They came out and got that first score so we made some adjustments and started gapping them and blitzing more linebackers.
“Offensively, the line and lead backs did a great job of creating space for Troy,” added Dressler. “He’s a tough runner to bring down in the open field. It was a solid team effort.”
Opening up holes for Helton up front was linemen Darryl Tolson, Lucas Via, Jackson Hinkle, Derek Dressler and Kevin Tyson, while providing blocks out of the backfield were Marcus Jeter and Charlie Dickson.
Defensively, K.J. Barber and Austin Waddell had solid games for the Cougars. Barber was in on a number of stops for loss, including a sack on 4th-and-goal midway through the fourth quarter.
Dickson added 17 yards on 10 carries for Covington.
Matt Ouellette led Craig County with 89 yards on 18 carries, while Persinger added 66 yards and a touchdown on 17 totes.
Covington (6-3, 3-0), winners of their last four, will round out the regular season next Friday at home against Parry McCluer, who observed an open date Friday night.
