By Michael Minnich
Tribune Sports Editor
mminnich@newstribune.info
KEYSER—Keyser’s six-game winning streak? Over.
Their perfect record at their new stadium? Gone.
Five straight wins in the Mineral Bowl, the longest-ever streak in the rivalry? Kaput.
The Frankfort Falcons wouldn’t have it any other way.
James Jones’ 65-yard touchdown pass to Jeremy Miltenberger with three minutes left broke open a tight game and gave the Falcons a 22-13 win over the Keyser Golden Tornado on Friday night at Tornado Alley.
Just as significant: the Falcons’ two-point conversion on a fake extra point in the first quarter that gave them the lead for good.
It’s the Falcons’ first win in the series since a 13-6 triumph in 2003.
Frankfort received to start the game, and Joey Luciw got the Falcons off to a great start, returning the ball to the Keyser 40.
Dalton Brown rushed for eight yards on first down, and, after a false start penalty, gained four yards.
Luciw moved the sticks with a seven-yard scamper.
Three plays later, after a penalty set up third-and-17, James Jones connected with Logan Wolford for a 16-yard gain.
On fourth down, Brown pushed the pile for two yards.
But two plays later, Jones fumbled on a run to the right, and Wes Washington scooped and returned the ball to the Frankfort 22 with 7:10 left.
After an offsides penalty on first down and a one-yard loss by R.C. Pratt, Scott Kitrell moved the chains with a six-yard run.
A false start set up first-and-15 for Keyser, then Kitrell, David Echartea, and Kitrell again moved the ball within one yard of the markers.
On fourth-and-1 at the Frankfort 3, Kitrell got the call, and picked up two yards and the first down.
Tyler Biser kept for the one-yard touchdown, and, with Kitrell's kick true, the Golden Tornado took a 7- 0 lead with 3:33 left in the first quarter.
The Falcons continued to look good running the ball, though, starting from their own 28 and quickly moving the chains on second down.
After Brown carried for four, Jeremy Miltenberger moved the ball across midfield with an 11-yard run to the left side.
Brown toted for eight more to the Keyser 33, then picked up the first down with a five-yard run.
The Falcons faced third-and-6 as the second quarter started, and converted on a Jones-to-Wolford hookup for eight yards.
Brown cashed in the pigskin with a pair of runs, the second from five
yards out, then the Falcons took the lead on a two-point conversion pass from Wolford to Zach Neiberlien.
With 10:22 left in the half, Frankfort led, 8-7.
After a touchback, the Golden Tornado moved the chains with runs from Echartea, Kitrell, and Kitrell again.
A flag for enchroachment gave Keyser five more yards, then Kitrell carried for two and Echartea three for a first down.
Two plays later, Biser dropped back to pass for the first time and connected with a diving Washington for 12 yards and a first down.
On third-and-6, Biser kept for five, then Kodie Evans, deputizing for a shaken-up Kitrell, picked up the needed yard on fourth down.
Echartea gained just two yards on the next two plays, then a pass interference call gave Keyser a first down.
At the Frankfort 18, KHS was flagged for a false start.
Echartea ran for eight, then Evans lost three.
Biser, rolling left, floated the ball towards Jonathan Moats in the end zone, but the pass was broken up.
Out of a timeout, KHS false started.
On fourth-and-15 with 1:09 left in the half, Biser was sacked to turn the ball over on downs.
Jones went to work, hitting Luciw for 31 yards.
But four incomplete passes, including a near-interception by Kadeem Garland on fourth down, gave the ball back to KHS on downs.
The Golden Tornado ran one play and let the first half end.
Kitrell returned to start the half for Keyser, carrying for five yards, and Echartea gained five more to nose the sticks forward.
But Keyser went nowhere on their next three plays and punted for the first time.
On second down, Jones found Brian Bills for 14 yards to the FHS 41.
Daniel McCormick's first touch of the night went for 11 yards and another first down across midfield.
Two plays later, Jeremy Miltenberger bit off 15 yards, then followed it with 14 more.
McCormick's ten-yard run moved the ball to the Keyser 7.
After two runs for no gain, Luciw gained six yards on a toss play to the Keyser 1.
The Falcons took a timeout facing fourth-and-goal.
Jones kept for a vital touchdown, and Wolford added to his area record for consecutive extra points with a boot down the middle.
Frankfort led, 15-7, with 4:50 left in the third quarter.
Keyser went three-and-out, and Frankfort took over after the punt at their own 33.
After McCormick carried for six, Jones was sacked by a host of Tornado defenders for a loss of 10 and KHS had the quick stop they wanted.
Miltenberger's punt was a good one, and Keyser started from their own 33.
On third down, Echartea gained 23 yards on a draw play to give Keyser a vital first down—also, Frankfort was flagged for a personal foul.
A two-yard run by Kitrell ended the third quarter.
On fourth down two plays later, the big fullback moved the chains with a nine-yard run.
Kitrell and Biser ran for two apiece, then a pass into the end zone was incomplete.
Fourth-and-six: Biser again dropped back to pass, and, again, the pass fell incomplete.
Frankfort took over on downs with 8:35 left.
But the Golden Tornado defense held: the Falcons went three-and-out.
Keyser took over in Falcon territory at the 48 with 6:34 left.
A hold nullified a long Echartea run on first down.
On second down, Biser completed a pass to Pratt for 15 yards, then Echartea picked up the first down.
Two plays later, the same passing combination gained the same amount of turf.
Biser, suddenly hot, then hit Kadeem Garland in the right corner of the end zone for a 20-yard touchdown pass.
But his heave on the two-point conversion was intercepted.
Frankfort still led, 15-13, with 4:10 left.
After two short runs, the riverboat gambler that is Kevin Whiteman went to the air.
Play action, Jones to Miltenberger, 65 yards, a backbreaker of a touchdown.
Wolford's kick led, 22-13.
On the kickoff, things got better for the blue-and-white: Pratt fumbled, and Bills recovered for FHS.
The Falcons ran a minute off of the clock, then Jones was was intercepted in the end zone on fourth down.
Keyser started from their own 20 with 1:36 left.
After gaining one first down, Biser was intercepted downfield by Dylan Wagoner.
The Falcons took a knee and celebrated the end of their drought in the cross-county series.
Keyser leads the overall series, 21-14.
Keyser (6-3) closes the regular season against Mountain Ridge next week.
Frankfort (8-1) hosts Hampshire next Friday.
Keyser, W.Va. —
