Red Devils out of chute for first home game
Red Devils tangle with Doddridge
By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
You're not going to win too many games when you fall behind by 31 points.
Calhoun did and Calhoun didn't as Doddridge grabbed a 31-0 halftime lead en route to a 45-20 victory over home standing Calhoun Friday night.
The Red Devils, now 1-2, played about as poorly as possible in the first half failing to get a first down and coming up with a total offense of minus eight yards.
Despite that, the Red Devils kept things relatively close until the final minute of the first half. That's when Doddridge, 2-1, scored twice to take a five touchdown lead and make it virtually impossible for the Red Devils to win the game.
But that didn't deter them from trying.
Calhoun mounted a third quarter rally that had the Bulldogs back on their heels most of the second half.
First Nathan Cosgrove snared a 47-yard scoring pass from Tyler Bennett to put the Red Devils on the board.
Calhoun coaches have some tense moments
Cheerleaders rev up the fans
Then Ben Laughlin banged one in from 11 yards out to make things 31-12. A come-from-behind victory for Calhoun was still a real long shot, but it was doable.
It was made less doable by a 53-yard gallop by Doddridge quarterback Cory Aichele but when Bronson Clark answered moments later with an 11-yard scoring run for the Red Devils to make it 38-20 it made the impossible seem possible. Not probable, but possible.
But that's where the Red Devils' hoped for fairy tale ending ended.
Calhoun would not score again and Doddridge would apply the final nail in the coffin when Justin Hefflin scored his third touchdown of the evening setting the final score.
Young fans enjoy the game
Band members play the anthem
Calhoun was held to 206 yards total offense and 11 first downs with Clark leading the way with 107 yards on 12 carries.
Calhoun's offense was hampered greatly by the injury loss of starting running back Cory Metz, who suffered a knee injury against Ritchie County last week and may not return.
Without Metz, Doddridge was able to key on Clark holding him to 14 yards in the first half before he got untracked.
Calhoun did have some spectacular moments from Cosgrove, who along with his 47-yard scoring run, was also able to come up with 132 returns yards including a 51-yard kickoff return in the first quarter.
Calhoun will try to get back on the winning track when it travels to Parkersburg Catholic next Saturday night.
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