Pisgah jayvees ride running game to resounding win over Tuscola

Oct. 13—The junior varsity Pisgah Bears rode their run game to a 34-13 victory over rival Tuscola Mountaineers on Thursday in Canton.

The game was the first "County Clash" football game of any level at Pisgah Memorial Stadium since the varsity Bears routed Tuscola 44-14 in February 2020, the COVID spring season.

"It was kind of weird because we did the bridge walk and stuff. The path has changed because they've never experienced it, so they walk their way," said Pisgah coach Jacob Hannah. "It's just so great to be down here. You get to have pre-game, sit in the locker room, stay in our offices, and just chill for an hour and a half after school versus hopping on a bus and driving to Bethel. Bethel is awesome. I'm a Bethel boy, but there's nothing like playing here as a Pisgah coach or Pisgah player on our field."

The resounding victory moves Pisgah to 5-1 on the season and is the third straight victory over Tuscola since the Mounties won 18-7 in 2020.

"Huge win," Hannah said. "It got us one step closer to our ultimate goal, which is to be conference champions. Anytime you can beat these guys, it's huge in our book. JV, varsity, I don't care."

Pisgah defense stifles Mounties

The JV Mounties got the ball to open the game and forced a three-and-out following a third-down sack of Tuscola quarterback Bo West by C.J. Webb. The Bears defense stepped up all night and held Tuscola to only 13 points. Hannah said the unit's play was a crucial part of the victory.

"We pride ourselves on it, hang our hat on it. We've got some great kids who buy into what we preach," he said.

Pisgah running backs Mason Putnam and Kane Bryson pounded their way downfield on Pisgah's ensuing possession. Bryson punched it in from 4 yards out to score the gamer's first touchdown. A successful two-point conversion put the Bears up 8-0.

Hannah, who primarily coaches the defense, said it's nice to sit back and watch the Pisgah running backs and offensive line go to work.

"Just to know you get to go play your game and the're pounding it, pounding it, pounding it, and making big runs, it's huge. We've got some road graders up there just doing their job, and three running backs that, when they get the ball, they're coming downhill pretty hard, and you know you're going to get at least three yards," he said. "Then you have that quarterback back there who is very elusive and he makes things happen, too."

Although a West pass to August Fama netted Tuscola a first down on its second possession, a dropped pass on third down forced the Mountaineers to punt again.

Despite some tough running from Pisgah runner Jacob Cruz-Reyes, the Bears couldn't get anything going on their third drive and were forced to punt. Pisgah's defense stifled the Tuscola run game and forced its third straight punt as it had done the entire first quarter.

Behind its solid run game, Pisgah marched downfield on its first drive of the second quarter until Putnam found Maddox Wright for a 25-yard touchdown. Hunter Nelson punched the ball in for the team's second successful two-point conversion to put Pisgah up 16-0.

Dropped passes plague Tuscola

Wright delivered a crushing hit to West on Tuscola's next possession to set up a third-down scenario for the Mountaineers. Under pressure, West scrambled for a first down to give the Mounties new life. But dropped passes plagued the Tuscola receivers all night, and an incomplete pass on third down ended Tuscola's drive.

"That's the game of football," Hannah said. "I tell my defensive backs all the time, 'Unless you're playing somebody is D-1 going to Clemson or somewhere like that, I don't care who it is — JV, varsity or middle school — if you're guarding the guy and you're in position, they've still got to make the catch, That's still crucial, it doesn't matter what level you're on. At the end of the day, kids still have to go out there and make plays."

On the first play of the Bears next possession, Hunter Nelson scampered 38 yards to paydirt for his first touchdown. Putnam was sacked on the two-point attempt, giving the Bears a 22-0 lead.

Tuscola had its best drive of the night in the waning moments of the second quarter following a big run from West, setting up the Mounties 17 yards out from the Pisgah endzone.

West fooled the Pisgah defense with a fake handoff before taking the ball around the right side for Tuscola's first touchdown. The point-after attempt was good, but the Bears still led 22-7.

The second half was no kinder to the Tuscola defense. Behind solid running from Putnam, the Bears pushed downfield into Tuscola territory. Putnam turned nothing into a 21-yard touchdown run and, after an unsuccessful two-point conversion, Pisgah led 28-7.

A pair of dropped passes forced Tuscola to punt again, giving the ball to a red-hot Pisgah offense. The Bears converted a fourth down and 3 yards to go before Putnam took the ball into the endzone from 8 yards out, giving Pisgah a 34-7 lead (two-point attempt unsuccessful).

Too little, too late

After the teams exchanged punts on their next possessions, West converted a third and 1 to go for Tuscola to to set them up on the Pisgah side of the field. He took the ball in from 8 yards out to give the Mounties their second score and cut into Pisgah's 34-13 lead (Tuscola's two-point attempt was unsuccessful).

That score would be the game's final as Cruz Reyes and the offensive line bled clock until the final whistle, giving the JV Bears another victory over the JV Mountaineers.

Hannah said the crowd — which he estimated to be over 2,000 people — played a significant role in giving the game the authentic County Clash feel.

"It's awesome," he said. "Most high schools don't even have that many people show up for a varsity game. It's an awesome experience for the boys. We tell them to cherish it, relish it and enjoy it."