FOOTBALL: Strong second half propels Mitchell past Owen

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The Mitchell High varsity football game broke a close game open in the second half en route to a 35-18 win at Owen on Friday, Sept. 22. 

Mitchell (6-0, 2-0) got on the board first with a 14-yard touchdown run from Dayshawn Orr. 

The hosts answered in the second quarter on a passing touchdown from Jakob Knighton to Hayden Burpeau that tied the game at 6– a sore that held until halftime. 

The Mountaineers turned on the jets in the second half, rushing for two touchdowns in the third quarter to jump ahead 22-6. Rylan Cooper and Chase Duncan registered the scores. 

Knighton found Ben Austin for a touchdown later in the third to trim the lead to 22-12 but Cooper scored again early in the fourth and Kaj Pittman added his own rushing touchdown later in the final quarter to push the Mountaineers to a 35-12 lead. 

Knighton hit Hudson Minks for a touchdown in the game’s final minutes to make the final score 35-18.

Mitchell’s Caleb Cook was 3-of-10 through the air for 40 yards and no touchdowns compared to one interception. Dillon Barnett had a pair of receptions for 29 yards and Pittman had a catch for 11 yards. 

The Mountaineers did their damage on the ground, rushing for 285 yards. 

Duncan led the charge with 130 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries. Cooper also crossed the century mark, amassing 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns on 14 carries. 

Pittman ran 9 times for 72 yards and a touchdown. Orr carried 7 times for 49 yards and a score. 

Cooper anchored the Mitchell defense with 7 tackles, including one for a loss. Jordan Riddle had 5 tackles. 

Mitchell now turns its attention to conference foe Draughn (5-1, 2-0). Draughn is fresh off a 49-7 drubbing of Avery and has won five straight since a Week 1 loss at Huss.

Kickoff is 7:30 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 29 in Ledger.