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Doddridge Wins Battle of Star Running Backs

America, Tyler’s Rucker shine in 42-28 shootout

SISTERSVILLE — Running backs Hunter America and Mark Rucker ran wild and free on Friday night at Tyler Consolidated.

America — who reached the 4,000 career-yard mark on his first carry of the game — starred for Doddridge County with 240 yards and two scores, while Rucker was stellar with 219 yards and a pair of touchdowns for Tyler.

However, it was America’s four-play drive right before halftime that seemed to give Doddridge all the momentum in a 42-28 victory over the Silver Knights.

Following a Tyler touchdown that put it up 22-21 with 1:23 left in the first half, America reeled off four runs of 32, 22, 9 and 2 in 46 seconds to find paydirt and give the Bulldogs the upperhand again.

“That was big,” Doddridge coach Bobby Burnside said. “It gave us the lead going into halftime and we knew we were kicking to them but that was big because we only had a minute.

“(America) wasn’t feeling his best but he played through it and I’m really proud of him.”

That momentum carried into the second half as the Bulldogs’ defense forced the first punt of the game on Tyler’s opening drive of the third quarter.

The punt setup a Doddridge scoring march that made it a two-possession game.

“That was a killer for us,” Tyler coach Ryan Walton said of the final scoring drive of the first half. “We go out and take the lead and it’s not like we laid back on defense to play prevent or anything. We were still playing defense but they just kept getting the edge and got the job done right there.

“America just has a little jump-cut where he can accelerate and guys bounce off of him. Hats off to him and he has a nice offensive line, too.”

In the first half, the only drive that did not result in a touchdown was Tyler’s final attack, which was shortened by halftime.

The two teams combined for 368 rushing yards in the first half and needed only six completions to move the ball down the field.

The two ground-attack offenses swapped scores on the first seven drives of the contest.

The first came on a Doddridge fumble at the Tyler 1-yard line but quarterback Noah Bumgardner fell on the loose ball in the end zone for six.

Tyler Consolidated answered with a 16-play drive capped by a Rucker 5-yard scoring dash. He added the two-point conversion to give his team the 8-7 edge.

Seven plays later, it was Amerca’s turn as he burst through the line for a 3-yard touchdown.

Rucker led the ensuing drive with big bursts of 27 and 19 yards, which led quarterback Gage Huffman to a 3-yard touchdown run on fourth-and-goal.

All of the first four scoring drives included a fourth-down conversion.

Reese Burnside of Doddridge also turned in a big game with seven rushes for 93 yards and three scores. His first came on a 32-yard reverse with 4:16 left in the first half to put his squad on top 21-14.

Huffman delivered the lone passing touchdown of the game with an 18-yard strike to David Throckmorton with 1:23 left in the half and a Rucker two-point run gave Tyler a 22-21 advantage before America took control.

Perhaps Rucker’s best highlight of the night came in the third as he gashed the defense, weaving and spinning his way for a 21-yard touchdown to get within one score at 35-28 with 4:01 remaining in the frame.

“He’s an athlete,” Walton said of Rucker. “I’m damn proud of his effort and I’m proud of all their efforts. Mark did some things right there that I didn’t show him how to do. He just does it. He put up a pretty good showing (Friday).”

Over the next 2:55, a combination of America and Burnside runs drove the Bulldogs down the field and America darted into the end zone from 2 yards out for the game’s final score.

The fourth quarter was an onslaught of turnovers as the two teams combined for seven giveaways, including a halfback toss by Rucker that found the hands of Doddridge’s Jared Jones.

“He’s an athlete and I thought we would stick that in right there but they just defended it pretty well,” Walton said.

Tyler also suffered from two turnovers on downs and another interception, while Austin Timmons picked off a pass for the Knights and Huffman and Case Landis recovered fumbles.

In all, both teams combined for 752 total yards (Doddridge 401, Tyler 351).

“We’ve never played Tyler where it hasn’t been a battle,” Coach Burnside said. “We watched film and that Tyler team (Friday) played a lot harder than last week. They played well.”

Doddridge County 42

Tyler Consolidated 28

Doddridge County 7 21 14 0 — 42

Tyler Consolidated 8 14 6 0 — 28

D — Bumgardner 1 fumble receovery (Devinney kick), 6:47

T — Rucker 5 run (Rucker run), :29

D — America 3 run (Devinney kick), 10:07

T — Huffman 6 run (run failed), 5:51

D — Burnside 32 run (Devinney kick), 4:16

T — Throckmorton 18 pass from Huffman (Rucker run), 1:23

D — America 2 run (Devinney kick), :37

D — Burnside 19 run (Devinney kick), 9:24

T — Rucker 3 run (run failed), 4:01

D — Burnside 6 run (Devinney kick), 1:00

Rushing: Doddridge 40-341-6td (America 28-240-2td, Burnside 7-93-3td, Bumgardner 2-1-td, Knight 2-7, Devericks 1-(-10). Tyler Consolidated 53-295-3td (Rucker 33-219-2td, Walton 4-13, Helmick 6-13, Huffman 10-50-td.

Passing: Doddridge 4-4-60 (all by Bumgardner). Tyler Consolidated 8-19-56-td-2x (Huffman 7-18-td-x, Rucker 0-1-x).

Receiving: Doddridge 4-60 (Kelley 2-23, Devericks 2-37). Tyler Consolidated 8-56-td (Strode 1-14, Throckmorton 1-18-td, Rucker 6-24).

First Downs: Doddridge 21; Tyler Consolidated 20.

Penalties: Doddridge 4-40; Tyler Consolidated 5-25.

Fumbles-Lost: Doddridge 3-2; Tyler Consolidated 1-1.

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