PARKERSBURG–Hedgesville claimed its first week-one playoff victory since 1997 Saturday afternoon at Erickson All-Sports Facility. The Eagles (7-4) surprised spectators in the second half with a late 70-yard kick return for a touchdown from Niyjere Smith to put the final score 35-29 on the board against Parkersburg South (7-4). “Our guys had the opportunity to win three out of the four ball games that we lost this season,” said Hedgesville head coach Joey Yurish. “We just kept shooting ourselves in the foot and couldn’t seem to make the plays when we needed to, but today we did those things. We made the plays that we needed to. We were able to get some defensive stops and we came up on top.” South’s Nick Yoho was the first to open up the scoring on a 6-yard touchdown run with 9:14 left in the first. Patriot starting kicker Ben Haught added the extra point to start the Patriots off, 7-0. The same Yoho, Haught combo found themselves putting another 7 on the board on Yoho’s 1-yard TD run with 3:13 left to close out the first quarter, 14-0. The Patriots added to their dominant first-half performance when Yoho again rushed into the end zone from 2 yards out for his third touchdown of the game. Haught added the extra point again with 10:29 left on the clock making the score 21-0. South’s defensive line held out strong the remainder of the quarter, preventing Hedgesville quarterback Hunter Coe from having time in the pocket to connect with Eagles receivers Malakai Brown and Smith. Photo by Dominic Catacora Parkersburg South’s Brandon Penn (1) contests a pass to Hedgesville’s Malakai Brown (2) during a high school football playoff game Saturday at Erickson All-Sports Facility. That all changed in the second half. “This is his (Coe) first game all year,” said coach Yurish. “We had a sophomore starting all year as quarterback and we kind of made the move this week to put him (Coe) back there because that’s where he was supposed to be in the beginning. He had a heck of a game for us.” Hedgesville and Coe found their rhythm when they returned out on the field for the start of the third quarter. Coe hit Smith for an 82-yard scoring strike with 8:34 left in the third. After a successful Finnegan Hall kick, Hedgesville was back in the game at 21-7. The uphill climb continued for the Eagles when Brown ran for a 4-yard touchdown with 2:29 left on the clock. Another successful extra point attempt later and Hedgesville trailed only by a one score gap to close out the third, 21-14. “Malakai and Niyjere are special,” said coach Yurish. “Anytime we get the ball in their hands, and we let them go, they are going to make big plays for us. I love those two to death and I think they are probably two of the best athletes in the state.” Brown found the end zone again on a 59-yard touchdown throw from Coe with 9:39 left in the fourth quarter. Hall kicked for the successful extra point attempt to tie the score, 21-21. Eight minutes later and Brown scored his third touchdown of the night, a 47-yard pitch and catch from Coe, giving the Eagles the lead for the first time all game. After the successful extra point, the score was in Hedgesville’s favor 28-21 with 1:57 on the clock, a hard fought turning point for the Eagles and their linemen. “We challenged them,” said coach Yurish. “We challenged them and said ‘We’re going to put the game on your back.’ And we’ve done that all year with our linemen. They’ve done a good job but today they did an excellent job in taking that challenge to credit and building off of it. We’re fortunate to have those big boys at front and all year long they’ve been able to perform for us.” On the Patriots’ last scoring drive, South’s freshman wide receiver Levi Rice went up for a catch as Hedgesville’s Aron Harmison hit him early which resulted in Rice being taken via an Ambulance off the field. Harmison, who was flagged for unnecessary roughness, was then ejected from the game for unsportman-like conduct. The penalties gave the Patriots 30 yards which Yoho capitalized on by running in for a 2-yard touchdown. South then went for the two-point conversion and succeeded on a Yoho run to make the score, 29-28, with 19.9 seconds left. “This is a group of kids that have continued to work throughout the year and just continued to get better,” said South head coach Mike Eddy. “This is a real testament to these guys and what they’ve done.” Smith caught and returned South’s ensuing kickoff, making it all the way to the end zone with 9.7 seconds left to break the Patriots’ hearts. “It’s a win. It’s our first win since 1997,” said coach Yurish. “So it’s been over 21 years.” Hedgesville advances to the state quarterfinals against third-seeded Capital. South left its first playoff game in 5 years knowing that the seniors have solidified their legacy out on the field. “It’s really all about these guys and the work they’ve put in,” said coach Eddy. “Today’s the hardest day in football. It’s when I have to say goodbye to my seniors. That’s pretty tough for me to do. We’re going to miss them a ton.”