Sports
Recap: Game-Winning Field Goal Lifts Parkersburg Over Parkersburg South In The Civil War [VIDEO]
By: Clay Benjamin
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Union Army General Ulysses S. Grant once said, "find out where your enemy is; get at him as soon as you can; strike him as hard as you can and keep moving on."
Both Parkersburg and Parkersburg South know exactly where their Civil War adversary is and one thing is for sure: They do not like each other.
The Patriots came into Friday night with a spot in the playoffs secured, and nothing would make them happier than eliminating the Big Reds from playoff contention.
But a 30-yard field goal kick by senior Josh Roney as time expired gave Parkersburg the 17-14 victory over the Patriots in his final Civil War battle.
The Big Reds (6-4) took possession of the ball with 1:52 remaining in the game when South's Zach Thompson coughed up the football and Parkersburg jumped on top of it.
Parkersburg then drove down the field to set up Roney for the game-winning kick.
With the win, the Big Reds bring home the Dr. Richard Corbett Memorial Trophy for the second-straight season.
The game went back and forth all night.
Parkersburg South (6-4) got off to slow start offensively, going three-and-out on their first three offensive possessions. Parkersburg on the other hand, pounded the Patriots defense with that Big Red running game.
The running trio of Corey Burdette, Chase Shank and Daniel Fox combined for 102 of the 117 Parkersburg rushing yards in the first half alone.
Parkersburg South had a sloppy night, as they had nine penalties for 62 yards.
Heading into the locker room, the score was tied 7-7.
Parkersburg South came out of the locker room looking like a new team. A seven-yard pass from quarterback Garrett Gilkeson to Cody Boggs gave South the 14-7 lead on their first possession of the second half.
Gilkeson finished the night 11-for-15 with 158 yards and two touchdowns.
Behind the running trio of Burdette, Shank and Fox, the Big Reds were able to fight there way back into the game at 14.
Burdette had a big night for the Big Reds. He finished the night with 32 carries, 121 yards and two touchdwons. Shank and Fox combined for 14 carries and 72 yards on the ground.
Now, Parkersburg will play the waiting game to see if they clinched a spot in the playoffs, as Parkersburg South is left wondering where they will be ranked.