By Michael Minnich
Tribune Sports Editor
mminnich@newstribune.info
KEYSER—The Keyser Golden Tornado scored 42 first half points—28 in the second quarter—to dispose of the Berkeley Springs Indians, 56-17, in the first Homecoming game at Alumni Stadium at Tornado Alley.
Scott Kitrell and R.C. Pratt rushed for two touchdowns, while Eric Lewis, Kodie Evans, David Echartea and Tyler Biser added one apiece.
Governor Joe Manchin was in attendance for the pregame festivities and briefly addressed the crowd.
“One of the finest facilities I've ever seen in the state, bar none,” said Manchin said of brand-new Alumni Stadium at Tornado Alley.
The governor was then presented with a jersey by KHS athletic director Ken Griffith.
Berkeley Springs received to start the first half after Manchin's coin toss.
The Indians went three-and-out, and Wes Washington returned the ensuing kick all the way to the Berkeley Springs 21.
Two flags on the Indians moved the ball forward ten yards, then R.C. Pratt darted off of the right side for an 11-yard touchdown.
Scott Kitrell's kick gave KHS a 7-0 lead with 10:19 left in the first quarter.
The Indians used their passing game to march 61 yards before settling for a 36-yard Zach Wise field goal.
Quarterback Zach White completed four of his six attempts on the drive for 43 yards.
Keyser gained one first down before punting down to the Berkeley Springs 11.
The Indians moved the sticks twice before punting.
Starting from their own 35 with 1:33 left in the first quarter, Keyser quickly moved into the red zone on Kitrell's first touch of the night.
The senior rumbled 52 yards on first down, then gained nine more to the Berkeley Springs 9.
After a run for no gain on second down to end the quarter, Kitrell picked up the first down with a four-yard push up the middle.
Two plays later, Pratt made it two carries, two touchdowns, going right for a 5-yard score.
Kitrell's kick pushed the lead to 14-3 with 11:05 left in the half.
On the second play of the next drive, Jarell Ross intercepted White's pass at the Berkeley Springs 48 and returned it 27 yards before being pushed out of bounds.
see KHS page 5A
David Echartea went to the house on the first play from scrimmage.
Kitrell's PAT pushed the cushion to 18 points, 21-3, at the 10:07 mark.
Berkeley Springs went three-and-out, then 10-yard runs by Echartea and Tyler Biser moved the ball to the Berkeley Springs 43.
A flag moved the ball back eight yards, then a touchdown toss from Biser to Pratt was nullified by an illegal man down field penalty.
Echartea gained nearly all of that back and then some with a run up the middle for a first down.
Biser fired a dart to Washington to gain 11 yards, then Echartea went up the gut for 21 more stripes.
Biser kept the ball for a 15-yard TD run to cap the drive with 6:04 left in the half.
Keyser led, 28-3.
Berkeley Springs went three-and-out, and a long return by Jarell Ross was partially blunted by a penalty.
From the Indian 40, Pratt carried for nine yards on first down, then Echartea gained seven.
Two plays later, Washington got a touch for 17 yards down to the Berkeley Springs 4.
Kitrell punched it in from there with 1:26 left.
With the kick, Keyser led, 35-3.
Berkeley Springs fumbled the ensuing kickoff, and Washington pounced on it.
After runs by Biser and Pratt, a score was taken off of the board by a holding penalty.
Then Biser darted up the middle, within inches of the goal line, and Keyser took a timeout with 15 seconds left.
Kitrell easily scored on the next play, and added the extra point to give Keyser a 42-3 lead heading into the locker room.
A steady rain began to fall at halftime and continued through the second half.
Keyser received to start the second half.
After penalties shuttled the ball back and forth, Echartea broke through for 24 yards on third down to navigate the pigskin to the Berkeley Springs 42.
Three plays later, Kodie Evans found a large hole and went 30 yards for KHS' seventh touchdown of the night with 7:07 left.
On second down, a wet snap squirted through White's hands; Aaron Westfall recovered for Keyser at the Berkeley Springs 39.
Allen Haggerty gained 30 yards on first down, but the Golden Tornado's second tier of backs couldn't finish the job, and KHS turned the ball over on downs at the Berkeley Springs 3.
The Indians drove into Keyser territory against the reserves to close out the third quarter.
Maxwell Langenstein finished the drive with an 11-yard run at the 10:42 mark.
Keyser needed just three plays to re-establish the 46-point lead: Eric Lewis went 50 yards for a touchdown and Kitrell added his eighth PAT.
Berkeley Springs went three-and-out, then Brandon Clay rushed for 14 yards on first down.
Two false start penalties killed the drive, though, and KHS turned the ball over on downs.
Andrew Truax scored on a 39-yard run to give the Indians another consolation touchdown.
With 2:16 left, Keyser led, 56-17.
The Golden Tornado chewed up the rest of the clock to seal their fourth straight win.
At halftime, Jack Tasker and Ashlyn Parrish were named Homecoming King and Queen.
Keyser (4-2) hosts Shady Spring next Friday.
Berkeley Springs (2-5) travels to Boonsboro next week.
Keyser, W.Va. —
