Sports
P. South Blows Late Lead vs. Greenbrier East
By: Justin McCauley
Posted on:
The Greenbrier East Spartans traveled to Parkersburg to take on the South Patriots for the first time in over six years. The Spartans needed a late touchdown to beat the Patriots 27-20 and keep their playoff hopes alive.
Late in the fourth quarter, Parkersburg South quarterback Garrett Gilkeson threw a key interception, allowing Greenbrier East to take control from the Patriots 30 yard line. A few plays later Ben Allen broke a 26-yard run to give first and goal to the Spartans.
On their fourth attempt from the goal line, Dalton Cline topped off a terrific night with a 1-yard run to put Greenbrier East ahead. Cline had 208 rushing yards on 32 carries for the night to go with two touchdowns.
Despite their fight Friday, the Patriots fell to 2-6 while Greenbrier East moved above .500 at 5-4.
Parkersburg South started off with a bang, as senior quarterback Garrett Gilkeson found junior running back Brendon Schwendeman for a 35-yard gain taking the Patriots down to the Spartans’ 28-yard line. But the drive would stall out after a failed fourth down attempt.
Greenbrier East got on the board first after a Patriots failed fake punt attempt. Spartan Quarterback Isaiah Kinder led the offense down the field, finding Colby Johnson in the corner of the end zone. Johnson’s one-handed catch gave the Spartans a 7-0 lead midway through the first.
It was a sloppy game overall all as both teams had several penalties, but Parkersburg South couldn’t get much going early in the game. The Patriots found some life late in the first quarter as Gilkeson found Schwendeman for 34 yards. Three plays later Cody Smith rumbled into the end zone to put the patriots on the board. A missed extra point kept South behind 7-6.
Midway through the second quarter, Greenbrier East controlled the momentum.
Dalton Cline scored from 4 yards out to extend the Spartan lead to 13-6. And as the clocked winded under two minutes in the first half, Colby Johnson got his second touchdown of the game on a beautifully-thrown pass by Kinder from 33-yards out.
But the Patriots did not go away quietly. Smith picked up his second rushing touchdown of the game, running in from the 7-yard line to reduce the Spartan lead to 19-13 before the half.
Coming out of halftime, the Patriots took control on a 45-yard touchdown run by Gilkeson. South took the lead 20-19 and the momentum.
But Gilkeson’s late miscue would be a difference in the game.
Parkersburg South takes on Wheeling Park Friday, Nov. 1.