By Tom Bragg, For Lootpress.com
Gallery by Craig Allison
WINFIELD, W.Va. – Winfield rolled into the 2022 Class AA state playoffs as the No. 1 seed, but saw its season end in the quarterfinal round via a late Herbert Hoover score to steal a win from the Generals.
On Friday, Winfield had an opportunity for revenge and with the script from last season appearing to repeat itself the Generals’ defense stepped up.
Herbert Hoover had narrowed a once multiple-score lead to just six points in the fourth quarter, but when the Huskies had their opportunities to complete the comeback and break hearts in Putnam County once again the Generals put a stop to it before adding a late score to secure a 35-22 win.
“We put last week behind us and really had a good week of practice,” Winfield coach Eddie Smolder said. “We were focused and locked in on getting better each day. I’m proud of our kids preparation and I’m proud of their focus and their intensity pregame. Most importantly I’m proud of the resolve they showed in the second half. We faced a lot of adversity – that’s a good football team we just beat.”
Winfield (1-1), came into Friday’s game looking to bounce back from a lopsided, shutout loss to rival Hurricane last week and did not waste much time grabbing the momentum against visiting Hoover (0-2). After forcing a quick three-and-out on the Huskies’ first drive of the game, Winfield senior quarterback Chase Massey needed just two plays to move the Generals 46 yards – capping the quick drive with a 15-yard touchdown run. Aiden Hernandez added the extra point to give Winfield a quick 7-0 lead.
Hoover had an answer, as standout junior quarterback Dane Hatfield led the Huskies on an eight-play, 74-yard scoring drive and put the ball in the end zone himself on a four-yard run to tie the game at 7-7. Winfield went right back to work, however, moving the ball nearly 80 yards on its next drive with Massey hitting Easton Pinkerton for a 15-yard score to put the Generals back in the lead.
The Huskies struggled to bring Massey down on Friday, especially in the first half. The Winfield quarterback notched his second touchdown run of the game – this one from 27 yards out – to extend the Generals’ lead to 21-7 just before the end of the first quarter.
Herbert Hoover had the ball near the Winfield goal line twice in the second quarter, and both times the Generals defense turned the Huskies away. K-juan Pearson added a five-yard touchdown run before the break and Winfield took a 28-7 lead on Hoover into halftime.
“We didn’t come out ready to play,” Hoover coach Joey Fields said after the loss. “That’s on us as a staff and our leaders.”
The momentum that Winfield had held such a firm grasp on in the first half shifted a bit in the third quarter. Hatfield led Hoover on an 8-yard, 11-play drive and found Jaylen Symns for a 10-yard touchdown to cut the Generals’ lead to 28-13 (Hoover’s extra point attempt was blocked).
Winfield followed that by going three-and-out and on the punt attempt snapped the ball over the punter’s head and into the end zone for an eventual safety to make it 28-15 and suddenly the Hoover sideline was showing some signs of life.
Pearson fumbled near midfield on the first play of the fourth quarter, and six plays later Hatfield lofted a ball just over Pearson outstretched arms to Fisher for a 10-yard touchdown to bring the Huskies to within six points at 28-22 with 9:20 to play.
Winfield tried its best to grind out the clock and put the game away with one more touchdown, but turned the ball over on downs at the Hoover 39-yard line with 4:28 remaining on the clock.
The stage was set for another dramatic Herbert Hoover comeback win at Winfield, but the Generals defense harassed Hatfield in the backfield and forced a quick turnover on downs. Four plays later Pearson slipped into the end zone from 13 yards out to set the final score at 35-22.
For Winfield, Massey completed 5 of 11 pass attempts for 128 yards with one touchdown and one interception while also running 15 times for 127 yards and two touchdowns. Pearson added 83 yards and two touchdowns on 12 carries. Jayce Miller also had four carried for 50 yards in the win.
“[Massey] is a dog, but most importantly he’s a great kid,” Smolder said. “He’s a winner and he’s unselfish. He’s a leader and he’s done everything we’ve asked him to do.
“It all starts up front with our offensive line and fullbacks and our receivers and our wings all blocking. This is a team effort and we had a lot of good effort tonight.”
Hatfield led the way in the loss for Hoover, completing 14 of 30 passes for 220 yards and two touchdowns while running the ball 26 times for 101 yards and a score. Fisher carried five times for 31 yards and caught six passes for 101 yards and a touchdown.
Winfield will look to keep up its winning ways next week on the road at Chapmanville, while Hoover aims to get its first win of the 2023 season as it opens its new on-campus football stadium with a visit from unbeaten and so-far impressive Nitro.
HH 7 0 8 7 – 22
W 21 7 0 7 – 35
First quarter
W – Chase Massey 15 run (Aiden Hernandez kick)
HH – Dane Hatfield 4 run (Joss Durenberger kick)
W – Easton Pinkerton 15 pass from Massey (Hernandez kick)
W – Massey 27 run (Hernandez kick)
Second quarter
W – K-juan Pearson 5 run (Hernandez kick)
Third quarter
HH – Jaylen Symns 10 pass from Hatfield (kick blocked)
HH – Safety
Fourth quarter
HH – Blake Fisher 10 pass from Hatfield (Durenberger kick)
W – Pearson 13 run (Hernandez kick)
Stats
Rushing: (HH) Hatfield 26-101-1, Fisher 5-31, Gabe Blackwell 3-3, Kdan Hughes 2-3; (W) Massey 15-127-2, Pearson 12-83-2, Jayce Miller 4-50, Pinkerton 3-12, Gavin Craffey 2-9.
Passing: (HH) Hatfield 14-30-220-2-0; (W) Massey 5-11-128-1-1.
Receiving: (HH) Fisher 6-101-1, Symns 5-31-1, Avery Pannell 2-75; (W) Miller 2-36, Pearson 1-63, Pinkerton 1-15-1, Hernandez 1-14.
