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Second Half Comeback Leads
CHS To Second Straight Win
by Newton Nichols

Updated on Wednesday*:

Ray Phillips, Chris Mace, Cody Cunningham and Christian Cottrell surround a Ritchie running back in last week's win.

Jeremy Conley holds on to the football and picks up a hard-fought six yards against the Rebels.

After falling behind three times in the first half, the CHS varsity football team rallied in the second half to post its second win in as many games last Friday night.

After holding host Ritchie on the first series, Calhoun muffed the punt return, and the Rebels needed just eight running plays to go 29 yards, scoring from the one on a quarterback sneak.

The two teams exchanged punts, but freshman Darrenger Fluharty returned Ritchie’s kick 53 yards to tie the game.

Turning to their passing game, the Rebels moved to the Calhoun 34 before stalling.

The Red Devils took over the ensuing endzone punt at the 20, but fumbled the ball away at their own 12. On 3rd-and-19, RHS passed into the endzone and kicked the extra point for a 13-6 lead 10:19 before halftime.

With Randy Fluharty carrying seven times for 62 yards, including the last seven for a score, Calhoun marched 68 yards in 12 plays. Zach Moore passed to Nick Stevens for the two-point conversion and a 14-13 lead.

The Rebels used four pass completions to answer the score in 11 plays. The 80-yard drive culminated on a seven-yard carry. The conversion run failed, but RHS led 19-14 at halftime.

With the aid of a 47-yard kickoff return by Roman Rader, it took Calhoun just 2:58 to tally the go-ahead touchdown to open the second half. Zach Moore scampered the last two yards and Randy Fluharty scored the conversion for a 22-19 edge.

The CHS defense, which had given up 195 yards in the first half, limited Ritchie to 47 yards while picking off three passes in the second half until 1:19 remained in the game.

After an exchange of possessions, Randy Fluharty picked off the first pass of the game, returning it 35 yards to the RHS 33 to set up his second TD.

Jeremy Conley gained 11 yards on two carries and Fluharty carried into the endzone on the next play. Moore threw to Rader for the conversion and Calhoun led 30-19 with 3:18 left in the third period.

Over the next 12 minutes, the two teams committed five turnovers. Calhoun gave the ball up on an interception and fumble, while Fluharty and Rader had interceptions and Aaron Yoak recovered a fumble.

CHS turned the ball over on downs at the Ritchie eight with 3:28 remaining. The Rebels were forced to punt and a 21-yard return to the 15 by Fluharty set up his third touchdown on the next play. Moore kicked the extra point to make the score 37-19 with 2:17 left.

Ritchie scored on a 64-yard touchdown pass to close out the scoring, 37-25, at 1:19.

Randy Fluharty had his second 200-plus rushing game (209 yards) for the offense.

Leading tacklers were Jacob Haught with eight and Aaron Yoak, Christian Cottrell, Tim Sutro and Ray Phillips with seven each.

Calhoun hosts Doddridge for the first home game on Friday night at 7:30.

Calhoun 6 8 16 7--37

Ritchie 6 13 0 6--25

R--Andy Lipscomb, 1 run

(kick failed), 5:21

C--Darrenger Fluharty, 53 punt

return (kick failed), 1:55

R--Ryan Richards, 19 pass from

Lipscomb (Brian Tingler

kick), 10:19

C--Randy Fluharty, 7 run (Nick

Stevens, pass from Zach

Moore), 4:39

R--Mark Echard, 7 run

(run failed), 1:01

C--Moore, 1 run

(R. Fluharty run), 9:02

C--R. Fluharty, 22 run

(Roman Rader, pass from

Moore), 3:18

C--R. Fluharty, 15 run

(Moore kick), 2:17

R--Richards, 64 pass from

Lipscomb (run failed), 1:19

TEAM STATISTICS

Calhoun Ritchie

13 First Downs 12

49-216 Rushes-Yardage 32-81

41 Passing Yardage 225

4-10-1 PC-PA-Int. 11-30-3

142 Return Yardage 18

1-25.0 Punts-Avg. 6-30.8

5-3 Fumbles-Lost 3-1

5-55 Penalties-Yards 11-94

OFFENSE

Calhoun rushing -- Randy Fluharty 34-209, Jeremy Conley 9-36, Zach Moore 6- -29. Total 49-216.

Calhoun passing -- Zach Moore 4-10-1, 41 yds.

Calhoun receiving -- Aaron Yoak 3-39, Roman Rader 1-2.

DEFENSE

Calhoun tackles (solos-assists-total) -- Jacob Haught 4-4-8, Aaron Yoak 4-3-7, Christian Cottrell 4-3-7, Tim Sutro 1-6-7, Ray Phillips 1-6-7, Jeremy Conley 3-2-5, Randy Fluharty 3-2-5, Roman Rader 2-3-5, Sean Gungle 2-3-4, Chris Mace 1-3-4, Darrenger Fluharty 1-3-4, Zach Moore 3-0-3, Cody Cunningham 1-2-3, Austin Moore 2-0-2, Dillon Mefford 1-1-2, Nick Stevens 1-0-1. Total 34-41-74.

Interceptions -- Randy Fluharty 2-52, Roman Rader 1-13.

Fumble recovery -- Aaron Yoak.

2008 CALHOUN VARSITY
FOOTBALL SCHEDULE

August

Calhoun 56 Gilmer County 6 .... W

September

Calhoun 37 Ritchie 25 .... W

12 Doddridge County Home

20 Park. Catholic (1:30) Away

26 Williamstown ..... Home

October

3 South Harrison ... Home