By Gaylen Duskey
realfang@citlink.net
The winner of the 2013 Carhartt Bowl - Wirt County.
Friday night the veteran laden Tigers punched in three fourth quarter touchdowns at Mount Zion to pull away from a young but game Calhoun County team to win the battle of the two old LKC rivals.
While the Tigers did win it didn't come without a few tense moments, some frustration and some angst.
Despite the Tigers statistical edge and domination for most of the game the Red Devils did burn the Tigers through the air and by midway through the third quarter held a 13-12 lead.
But the upset bid was not to be.
Wirt scored four straight touchdowns, the first near the end of the third period giving it a lead it never relinquished.
The fourth quarter was controlled by the older Tigers - Wirt has 21 upperclassmen on the roster compared to Calhoun's 11.
The first touchdown in the fourth pretty well put the game away as Wesley Valentine's 10-yard run put the Tigers ahead by two touchdowns with the last two came very late and were somewhat superfluous as Wirt kept in the starters.
Wesley Valentine and Justin Joy had two touchdowns apiece for the Tigers while Dustin Garner had one as did lineman/blocking back Daniel McCue. All the Tigers' touchdowns and extra points were scored by seniors.
On the other hand both of the Red Devils' touchdowns were scored by sophomores while the extra point was kicked by a freshman.
Wirt, perhaps showing the frustration of not being able to score a knockout punch early against the Red Devils, were hampered by penalties with the Tigers being whistled 17 times for 155 yards, including nine personal fouls of one kind or another.
Despite all the fouls the Tigers still were able to amass 21 first downs compared to Calhoun's nine.
Calhoun was held to 114 yards rushing but came up with 151 passing on 7-20-3. Several of the incompletions, however, came late in the game when the Red Devils were playing catch-up football and were forced to throw.
Ethyn Miller stepped up in a big way for Calhoun as he caught four of Logan Moore's passes for 119 yards and a touchdown. Ironically his 15-yard touchdown was his shortest reception. Miller also had a pair of interceptions for the Red Devils.
Devon McKown had one reception for 27 yards and Cole Ritchie caught two for five yards.
Kirkland Allen led Calhoun with 35 rushing yards while Ritchie had 34, including 16 on a touchdown run. Freshman Seth Moore had 29 on three carries while Logan Moore had 16 on 12 attempts while scrambling for his life on numerous passing attempts.
Calhoun, 0-9, will try for its first win of the season when it entertains Clay County next Friday night in the season finale.
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