Mitchell's Rylan Cooper follows his blockers and tries to get the edge during a running play on Friday, Sept. 1 at home against Alleghany. Mitchell won 22-14 to improve to 3-0.
The Mitchell High varsity football team scored late to break the ice in a tightly-contested, back-and-forth duel with non-conference foe Alleghany and move to 3-0 on the season.
Chase Duncan’s 7-yard touchdown run with just 1:32 left in the fourth quarter put Mitchell up 22-14 after a 2-point conversion, which was too much for the visitors to overcome.
The Mountaineers employed a balanced attack throughout the evening. The hosts had 132 rushing yards and 168 yards through the air.
After a scoreless opening quarter, the Trojans broke through early in the second quarter on a touchdown run from Mark LeMasters.
Duncan answered minutes later with his first of two touchdown runs to tie the score at 6.
After a quiet third quarter, junior quarterback Caleb Cook hooked up with Kadan Phillips in the fourth for a 43-yard touchdown that put Mitchell up 14-6 after a successful 2-point conversion.
Alleghany’s LeMasters answered minutes later with another touchdown run, but Duncan’s late touchdown score lifted Mitchell to the win in front of a sea of Mountaineer fans clad in white for “white out” night.
Duncan was Mitchell’s leading rusher with 13 carries for 47 yards and two scores. Rylan Cooper chipped in 46 yards on 9 carries. Kaj Pittman had 13 yards, including a 7-yard scamper.
Cook had his most efficient passing game of the season, completing 12-of-18 passes for 168 yards and a touchdown. Phillips and Dillon Barnett emerged as his favorite targets on the evening, amassing 82 and 51 receiving yards, respectively.
Chris Wences had a pair of catches for 30 yards and Fernando Flores caught a pass for 5 yards.
Cooper turned in a team-high 7 tackles.
Mitchell wraps up its non-conference slate with a trip to Andrews on Friday, Sept. 8. Andrews pounded New Faith Christian (GA) in Week 3 to move to 3-0. The Wildcats blanked Rosman 35-0 in Week 1 and followed with two 50+ point efforts.
Western Highlands Conference play begins on Sept. 15 at home against Madison.