By Michael Minnich
Tribune Sports Editor
mminnich@newstribune.info
KEYSER—The best football game in Tornado Alley history?
Okay, there's only been two, but mark this one down for future reference.
Fourth down.
14.7 seconds left.
Ball at the Allegany 1.
Scott Kitrell—into the end zone.
With that score, and the successful two-point conversion, the Keyser Golden Tornado took home a thrilling 28-25 win over the Allegany Campers Friday night.
Kitrell, who his teammates and coaches call Joe Rock, rushed the rock 28 times for 166 yards, two touchdowns, and a pair of two-point conversions as the Golden Tornado stayed perfect in their new home and toppled previously undefeated Alco, who had outscored their opponents 163 to 19 in their three wins.
The drive was set up by an Allegany fumble at the Keyser 13 with 5:47 left.
The opening drive set the tone.
Allegany won the opening toss and deferred to the second half; Keyser received to start the game.
The Golden Tornado assembled an impressive opening possession.
Kitrell picked up a third-and-3 with a 13-yard run to move the ball to the KHS 43, then quarterback Tyler Biser pump-faked and run for another third down conversion three plays later.
A false start and a sack set up second-and-24, but Biser evaded pressure and found tight end Jonathan Moats for a 22-yard gain.
Kitrell moved the sticks with a 14-yard push up the middle, then Kitrell, David Echartea, and Kitrell again carried for eight more yards.
Facing fourth down, KHS coach Sean Biser called Kitrell's number again, and the power back rumbled for five yards—two more than what was needed—down to the Allegany 11.
Three plays later, Biser nosed the ball in from the 1.
All told, Keyser moved the ball 77 yards in 16 plays over eight minutes and 50 seconds.
Allegany got the same result in much less time.
Dustin Wharton carried for 17 yards on first down, then quarterback Demetreous Taylor tucked and ran for 18 yards down to the KHS 28.
Four plays later, Taylor scored from the 1-yard line for the first opposing touchdown in Alumni Stadium history.
It took just 2:06 for Allegany to answer; the snap for the extra point was low, and Taylor scooped and ran to the right edge of the end zone for the two-point conversion.
Allegany led, 8-6, with
see KHS page 5A
52.5 seconds left in the first quarter.
A holding penalty and a sack pinned Keyser deep, but the Campers muffed the ensuing punt.
Keyser recovered at their own 41.
Another fumble immediately went KHS's way, too: Kitrell carried across midfield and lost the handle, but Kadeem Garland scooped the pigskin up.
The track star made no mistake, flying the rest of the way for the touchdown with 11:20 remaining in the first half.
Kitrell punched in the two-point conversion, and Keyser took the lead back, 14-8.
Two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties on Allegany meant that Keyser got to kick off from the Allegany 30: prime time for an onside kick, courtesy of Biser.
Keyser caught the ball, but was flagged for kick catching interference and unsportsmanlike conduct.
What could have been a huge shift in momentum for Keyser simply resulted in Allegany starting their drive at their own 34.
Allegany moved the ball across midfield, and on a crucial third down, Trevor Jessie gained 25 yards on a double handoff.
The Campers moved the chains again down to the KHS 12, and, six plays later, Melvin Tyson dove in from one yard to cap the 11-play drive.
John Carpenter's extra point gave Alco a slim 15-14 lead with 6:20 remaining.
On third down, the interception bug, a problem for Keyser all season, bit Biser again—his toss went into the waiting hands of Drew O'Neal at the KHS 36.
But two plays later, Keyser got it back at their own 44 when the football squirted out of Wharton's mitts on a double handoff.
After Kitrell gained six yards on first down, Wes Washington tore off ten more on a reverse.
An illegal block bumped the ball back behind midfield, then Biser was sacked for the third time for a loss of nine.
Two R.C. Pratt totes weren't nearly enough to make up for lost yardage and KHS punted with 1:39 left.
In their hurry-up offense, Allegany picked up two first downs on passing plays to Wharton, then a pass interference call on a fade pattern to the left sideline moved the ball all the way to the Keyser 27.
Facing third-and-3 with 33 seconds on the clock, Taylor's heave to Wharton in the end zone was incomplete.
Carpenter came on and connected from 36 yards with 21 seconds on the clock to push the Campers' lead to 18-14.
Keyser recovered an onside kick at the KHS 48, but didn't have enough time to create a drive.
Allegany held the halftime advantage in total yards, 183 to 136, thanks to scoring drives of 63, 66 and 51 yards, despite the absence of leading rusher J.D. Hook.
To open the second half, Keyser's defense did their job: a three-and-out thanks to a sack on third down by Moats.
Jarell Ross returned the punt to the Allegany 30.
Kitrell took it from there: a 10-yard run on first down and a gain of 16 more on the next play.
Three more yards from Kitrell bumped the ball to the Alco 1, but the big back was stopped for a loss on second down.
The fifth time did the trick: Kitrell off the right guard for three yards and the score.
Kitrell carried for the sixth consecutive time for the two-point conversion, but was stopped short.
Keyser led, 20-18, with 7:40 left in the third quarter.
After Alco moved the sticks once with the run, Taylor picked up 34 yards on third down to stick the Campers in the red zone at the 16.
Again on third down, Taylor came to the fore, finding Trevor Jessie for a 16-yard touchdown on a pass to the right side of the field. Every other play on the drive was a run.
Carpenter's kick swung the pendulum back the way of Allegany, 25-20, with 3:28 left in the third.
Kitrell again was called upon to haul the mail, picking up a third-and-3 with a 14-yard run.
On third down, Biser rolled right and gained just enough to move the sticks and shift the football into Allegany territory.
Echartea gained seven yards on the final play of the third quarter, then Kitrell earned the first down with a six-yard run.
However, runs by Kitrell, Washington, and Kitrell again came up four yards short of moving the sticks again, forcing a key fourth down play.
Biser, rolling left, came up about a half-yard short, handing the ball over on downs with 9:26 left.
Taylor hit Stefan Bonnet for a gain of 24 yards on third down and seven at the Alco 42, then J.C. Hixon rushed for 13 yards.
Two plays later, with Allegany close to the knockout punch, they took a right hook: a fumble was recovered by Keyser at their own 13 with 5:47 left.
Kitrell ripped off a run of 17 yards on second down but went to the sideline to get his leg stretched out.
Allen Haggerty took over at fullback and gained one yard, then Echartea darted for seven more.
On third down, Haggerty got the call, and picked up the first down.
With Kitrell bouncing on the sidelines ready to come back in, Echartea ran for nine yards on first down.
Kitrell gained the first down, then Pratt moved the sticks again two plays later with a 13-yard scamper.
With 1:28 left, down five, KHS had a fresh set of downs with 27 yards between them and the end zone.
Echartea went right for 26 of those yards: first and goal at the 1.
Biser was stuffed on a quarterback sneak on the first two plays, and Keyser took a timeout with 23 seconds left.
Kitrell got the ball: his first effort was inches short, and he was thrown back on his second effort for no gain.
Fourth-and-the game with 17 seconds left: Kitrell didn't disappoint, surging up the middle for the go-ahead score with 14.7 seconds left.
Keyser went for the two-point conversion, and Biser followed a golden caravan right for the vital extra points: 28-25, KHS.
Wharton returned the kickoff to the Allegany 35 with seven seconds—and two Alco timeouts—left.
The pass on first down was incomplete with one second left.
One last chance to dance for Taylor and the Campers: it wasn't to be; the pass down the right side fell incomplete.
Keyser (2-2) travels to Hampshire next Friday.
Allegany (3-1) hosts St. Albans next week.
