By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
Jeremy Conley runs the ball for Calhoun
Photos courtesy of Patty Haught
Every team can have an off day. It happens. But Parkersburg Catholic is not one of those teams to have an off day against.
Calhoun learned that lesson the hard way Saturday night at Stadium Field in Parkersburg and the result was the Red Devils first loss of the season - 14-0 to the Crusaders.
Calhoun did all it had to do to open the door for the Crusaders in the first quarter as it (1) lost the opening kick when PCHS tried an onside kick, (2) fumbled the ball away on a short run and (3) fumbled the ball away again on a pass reception.
The result was two short field drives - both fumbles were inside Calhoun's own 30 yard line - and two quick touchdowns and a 14-0 lead. As it turned out those two quick scores were the only two of the game.
Tommy Brunoni scored both touchdowns for PCHS, 2-1, from two and 25 yards out. Overall he led PCHS with 87 yards on 18 carries. But it was his defense - he became PCHS all-time leading tackler during the game - that made the difference.
While Calhoun actually out gained PCHS 205-156 the Crusaders were able to bottle up the Red Devils all-state candidate, Randy Fluharty, holding him to 113 yards on 22 carries, or about half the yardage he had in each of the first three games. Fluharty came into the contest leading the LKC with 630 yards rushing.
Zach Moore with the quarterback keeper
Randy Fluharty runs the ball
The Crusaders' keying on Fluharty did open up some running room for fullback Jeremy Conley, who had 64 yards on 12 carries and quarterback Zach Moore, who had 40 yards on 10 carries. Despite that the Red Devils' usually potent running game was not and that forced them to go to the air.
While gaining some yards through the air the Red Devils did learn that the late Ohio State coach Woody Hayes was one short in his famous old saying about passing.
Hayes said three things can happen when you pass and two of them - interceptions and incompletions - are bad. He was wrong; there are three bad things that can happen when you pass. The third is bad calls or no calls as Calhoun learned.
The first no-call happened right before halftime when Calhoun attempted a pass that went off the receiver's (or defender's) hands out of bounds with 2.4 seconds remaining which should have stopped the clock allowing the Red Devils one more play. The clock never stopped and the half ended.
The second no call happened in the second half when Roman Rader had his defender beaten and Moore laid the pass out into what should have been his waiting hands were it not for a PCHS defender grabbing his arm, which should have been pass interference. It was not called and the drive was stopped.
The loss cost the Red Devils a perfect season. It's gone.
It probably cost them the LKC title, unless the Red Devils can KO Williamstown and St. St. Marys along with all the rest of their opponents while somebody beats PCHS.
But it did not ruin Calhoun's hopes for a Class A playoff berth. Calhoun should drop in the WVSSAC ratings this week but it should have a 6.0 rating, which would put it inside the top 16 teams.
Calhoun will try to rebound Friday when top-ranked Class A team Williamstown comes to Mount Zion while PCHS will travel to Wirt in an attempt to go to 3-1 on the year.
Red Devil Cheerleaders keep the enthusiasm going
Calhoun High School Band Majorettes
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