Mitchell’s Chase Duncan (4) holds his block just long enough for junior quarterback Caleb Cook to get a pass off on Aug. 25 in a 35-6 win over visiting McDowell. Mitchell hosts Alleghany in Week 3.
The Mitchell High varsity football team took an early lead and never looked back in a 35-6 thrashing of McDowell in Ledger on Friday, Aug. 25.
Mitchell, which moves to 2-0 with the win, got a big effort from Rylan Cooper, who rushed for 155 yards and two touchdowns and added a reception for 49 yards.
Cooper’s efforts on the ground were complemented by 60 yards on 16 rushes from Chase Duncan and 19 rushing yards from Marley McCourry.
Junior quarterback Caleb Cook was efficient through the air, completing 6-of-7 passes for 90 yards. He had one interception. Kadan Phillips, Dillon Barnett and McCourry all had a reception each.
Jordan Riddle and Austin Styles paced the defense by combining for 13 tackles. The Mitchell defense terrorized McDowell quarterback Job Marsh, holding him to 2-of-6 passing for just 13 yards while picking him off twice.
The Mountaineers limited the Titans to 202 yards of total offense on 52 plays. Mitchell ran 47 plays and gained 309 yards.
Duncan got the scoring party started midway through the opening quarter by recording a 6-yard touchdown run. Cooper added another 7-yard rushing score in the second quarter to stake the hosts to a 15-0 lead at halftime.
Duncan started the second half with another 2-yard scoring plunge to push Mitchell’s lead to 22-0.
McDowell broke through late in the third quarter in what would be the visitor’s lone score when Hayden Haynes had a 9-yard rushing touchdown.
Cooper scored again in the final minute of the third and McCourry had a 3-yard rushing touchdown in the fourth to make the final score 35-6.
The win was number 100 in the career of Mitchell head coach Travise Pitman.
The Mountaineers continue their non-conference slate in Week 3 by welcoming Alleghany to Ledger. The Trojans (1-1) started their year with a bang via a Week 1 blowout over Surry Central but were nipped in Week 2, 14-12 against Grayson County.
The game against Alleghany is being dubbed a “white out” and as such, Mitchell fans are asked to wear white to make the home section a uniform sea of Mountaineer fans.