That’s what the capacity crowd of prep football fans found out Saturday night as they watched West Virginia defeat Kentucky in convincing fashion by the score of 30 to 12 in the 14th Annual Hatfield – McCoy Senior Bowl at Tiger Stadium in Matewan.
2009 senior football players representing over 18 different schools from West Virginia and Kentucky gathered Saturday night to battle for one last claim of prep victory. And in the end, West Virginia came away with their sixth consecutive win, and ninth overall in a bowl that used to be virtually owned by Kentucky teams.
The scoring started early for West Virginia when quarterback Josh Sammons of Matewan High, led a drive downfield in the first quarter that culminated in a one yard quarterback sneak by Sammons to make the score 6 to 0, West Virginia.
Kentucky short circuited West Virginia’s next drive however, when Prestonsburg’s Allen Craynon intercepted a Sammons pass intended for Logan’s Derrick Perrin. That prevented what would have most likely been another score.
In the second quarter, West Virginia returned the favor though, with Chapmanville Tiger Zach Belcher’s interception of Kentucky quarterback Charlie Banks (from Letcher Central). Matawan’s Roger Slone then scored on a thirteen yard touchdown reception making the score 14 to 0 in favor of West Virginia.
Banks answered back with an 8 yard quarterback draw play with just over a minute remaining in the second quarter to make the score 14 to 6.
West Virginia would not allow the momentum to escape them though as Sammons led West Virginia down the field and hit fellow Matewan Tiger Max Whitt with a 50 yard touchdown pass with 14.5 seconds remaining in the half. That sent it to halftime with the score West Virginia 21, Kentucky 6.
During halftime, Ms. Katelyn Colegrove from Tug Valley High School was named as Miss Massey Energy Hatfield McCoy Senior Bowl Queen. Colegrove became the first Tug Valley student to be named queen in the 14 year history of the senior bowl. She was crowned by Miss West Virginia 2009 Talia Markham.
In the third quarter, Matewan’s Slone collected more yardage on the ground for West Virginia as he ran for a 19 yard touchdown with 9:55 to go in the quarter to bring the score to 27 to 6 favoring West Virginia.
Logan’s Josh Wilson, who had been perfect all night on extra point attempts, came in with 2:49 remaining in the third quarter and hit a field goal to make it West Virginia 30, Kentucky 6.
With 28 seconds left in the ballgame, Kentucky back-up quarterback Dennis Dillon from Johnson Central High scored the final touchdown of the game when he scored on a four yard quarterback sneak. That made the final score of the ballgame West Virginia 30, Kentucky 12.
Roger Slone was named the West Virginia Offensive MVP of the game and Charlie Banks was named the Kentucky Offensive MVP. Logan High’s Sammy Pansera was named West Virginia’s defensive MVP of the game and Allen Craynon was selected as the Kentucky Defensive MVP. West Virginia’s Josh Sammons was awarded the West Virginia Hatfield McCoy Academic Scholarship and Kentucky’s Ryan Hager of Phelps was awarded the Kentucky Hatfield McCoy Academic Scholarship.
After the game, Bowl Director Danny “Yogi” Kinder of Matewan High School was ecstatic about the 14th edition of the bowl.
“This was the cleanest game we’ve ever in the 14 years we’ve had this game,” said Kinder, referring to the very few penalties incurred in the game.
“This was a great game. Both teams were tough and I thought it would be a good one although I believed West Virginia had a little more speed coming into this thing than Kentucky did,” Kinder said. “I was just so proud of everybody in this game. Coach Jesse Peck from Phelps did a great job with the Kentucky team and I was really proud of my Matewan Assistant Coach John Fry who coached the West Virginia squad. Nobody deserves this win more than John. And I thank Massey Coal Services and Massey Energy for continuing to sponsor this game. Without them, there would be no senior bowl.”
“I was very pleased with our play. We knew coming in we had to key on certain things against them, especially making sure that Ivan Lee didn’t get free to run the ball. We did exactly what we practiced.” Fry said after nailing down his second consecutive Hatfield McCoy Senior Bowl win. “I thank Coach Kinder for giving me the opportunity to coach in this game two years in a row and I thank all of my coaches and players for their efforts. This game was dedicated to my dad, John Fry Sr. and to one of my former coaches here, big Blaine Pruitt. Without them, I wouldn’t have been doing this.”
Massey Energy Community Relations and Marketing Director Troy Andes said Massey Energy, despite the current economic climate, had every intention to continue sponsoring the Hatfield McCoy Senior Bowl.
“These are the types of events that we at Massey really like to be a part of,” said Andes. “We are always amazed at the talent that these kids have and the great atmosphere the fans bring to it. We will indeed continue sponsoring the Senior Bowl and, of course, our basketball tournament in December. Those two events are the fun ones for us.”
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