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In a rain-drenched gridiron clash of likely Pioneer District contenders Friday, Narrows poured it on in the third quarter to pull ahead and run away from the Parry McCluer High School football team, 56-21.
The Fighting Blues held their own through the first two quarters, grabbing a 14-6 lead on the strength of some hard-nosed running and tackling on soggy Ragsdale Field. There was a downpour just before the start of the game and a light drizzle during the first half that turned into a deluge for the final 24 minutes.
The Blues (4-2, 0-1 Pioneer) received the opening kickoff, but a fumble on their initial possession was recovered by the Green Wave’s Cooper Helvey at the PM 37-yard line. Tucker Bryan hauled in a 23-yard pass from Kolier Pruett to put the ball at the PM 8. Helvey ran it in from there for the game’s first touchdown. The PAT kick was blocked.
Following a couple of ground gainers by Jackson Brockenbrough and an incomplete pass, Blues quarterback Nathan Glass did a quick-kick punt on fourth-and-short to pin the Green Wave back at their 9-yard line. Brockenbrough tackled Pruett behind the line of scrimmage, and a holding penalty pushed the Green Wave back further.
PM began its next possession at the Narrows 48. A 5-yard pass completion from Glass to Parker Camden was followed by positive rushing from Shaiden Ratcliffe, JJ Jones and Brockenbrough. Early in the second quarter, Glass ran it in from the 1 for the Blues’ first touchdown. Brockenbrough was stopped just short of the goal line on a rushing 2-point attempt, and the score stayed at 6-6.
PM got a short field on its next possession following a fumble recovery by Camden at the Narrows 38. Jones and Brockenbrough again got the ground game going for the Blues. The slippery conditions led to a fumble inside the 10, but Camden recovered the ball at the 9-yard line. Aaron Pruett ground ahead to the Narrows 6. On fourth down, Glass connected with Camden for a 6-yard TD pass play with 5:40 to go in the half. Brockenbrough punched it in up the middle for the 2-point conversion, extending the Blues’ lead to 14-6.
Despite positive yardage from the tandem of Pruett and Helvey, Narrows’ next drive stalled near midfield and, following a punt, the Blues regained possession at their 20-yard line. After a three-and-out, Narrows (5-1, 1-0) got the ball back at their own 35 following a PM punt. On the first play of the possession, Pruett broke free on a keeper and raced down the left sidelines for a 65-yard TD jaunt with 50 seconds to go before halftime. The PAT kick by Matt McGlothlin brought the Green Wave within one, 14-13.
Narrows began the second half in good field position, at the home team’s 42, after the kickoff went out of bounds. Rushing by Helvey and Pruett put the ball in Blues territory, but the drive stalled with three consecutive incomplete passes. The Blues took over on downs at their own 41.
Narrows’ Colby Livingston then intercepted a pass, returning it to the PM 35. After being sacked for a 2-yard loss, Pruett hooked up with Helvey for a 25-yard pass completion to the PM 13. From there, Helvey bulled his way into the end zone to give Narrows the lead. A McGlothlin PAT kick made the score 20-14 with 8:26 to go in the quarter.
PM’s next possession went nowhere, after a fumble and recovery led to a loss of 10 yards. On Narrows’ next possession, Pruett found daylight down the right sideline to bolt for a 59-yard TD.
The rain was gaining in intensity, and the floodgates opened for the Green Wave. An interception by Narrows’ Tucker Bryan gave the home team the ball at its own 32. On the very next play, Helvey went straight up the middle for a 68-yard TD run. A Pruett PAT run extended Narrows’ lead to 35-14.
A fumble on the ensuing kickoff gave Narrows the ball at the PM 34. A couple of plays later, Pruett ran it in from the 10. On the Blues’ next possession, deep in their own territory, an errant snap to the punter led to a safety for the home team. Pruett returned the subsequent kickoff 50 yards into the end zone to give Narrows a commanding 50-14 lead with 1:58 left in the third quarter.
In the final frame, the teams traded touchdowns. A 17-yard TD run by Helvey came with 6:13 to go. The Blues then proceeded to march 72 yards down the field to get the game’s final TD, a 31-yard scamper into the end zone by Jones with a minute left. A PAT kick by Conley brought the scoring to an end. PM’s leading rushers were Brockenbrough with 88 yards on 22 carries and Jones with 71 yards on 12 carries. For Narrows, Pruett rushed for 171 yards and Helvey ran for 129. Leading the way on defense for the Blues were Conley, Brockenbrough, Rayshan Richardson and Camden.
Parry McCluer will play host to Craig County Friday in Buena Vista, with kickoff set for 7 p.m.
PM 0 14 0 7 20 Narrows 6 7 37 6 14 First Quarter NHS – Helvey 8 run (kick blocked) Second Quarter PM – Glass 1 run (run failed) PM – Camden 6 pass from Glass (Brockenbrough run) NHS – Pruett 65 yard run ( McGlothlin kick) Third Quarter NHS – Helvey 13 run (McGlothlin kick) NHS – Pruett 59 run (McGlothlin kick) NHS – Helvey 68 run (Pruett run) NHS – Pruett 10 run (McGlothlin kick) NHS – safety NHS – Pruett 50 kick return (kick blocked) Fourth Quarter NHS – Helvey 17 run (kick blocked) PM – Jones 31 run (Conley kick)
