slideshow

POINT PLEASANT, W.Va. —There’s a first time for everything.

Last year, it was the first time that the Point Pleasant Big Blacks had made the playoffs four years in a row. The previous longest streak was three seasons.

This year, the senior class rose the bar one level higher. Make it five seasons now.

The Big Blacks cruised to another victory on senior night over the Chapmanville Tigers 48-15 to clinch yet another playoff berth.

The win ensures that the Big Blacks will be in the 16 team playoff field and will probably be playing against Morgantown High School on the road.

The Big Blacks had another big offensive night, rolling up 526 yards of total offense. The rushing attack had 439 of that total.

Senior running back Marquez Griffin continued his tear with his first career 200 yard rushing game – carrying the ball 10 times for 203 yards and one score.

Other ball carriers included Chase Walton (5-66), Aden Yates (7-61), Tylun Campbell (10-42), Cody McDaniel (2-20), Cody Mitchell (2-18), Teran Barnitz (3-17), and Cody Marcum (1-12).

Sophomore quarterback Aden Yates continued his sensational sophomore season with another solid night – completing 7 of 9 passes for 87 yards. He threw for three touchdown scores in the game – two to Chase Walton and one to Brycen Reymond.

Walton was the leading receiver in the game with 2 catches for 53 yards, both scores. Reymond had two grabs and Marquez Griffin had two catches for 7 yards.

It was another sluggish start for the locals. Point scored the first score just over one minute into the game when Chase Walton ran in from ten yards out. The Colin Peal kick was good.

Chapmanville had a long drive that lasted nearly seven minutes and ended with a touchdown when Dustin Smith caught a pass from Max Spradlin. The extra point was good.

After that, it was no looking back for the Big Blacks. On the very next play from scrimmage, Marquez Griffin ran 70 yards for a score with 11:32 left in the first half. After a quick Chapmanville turnover, Yates found Walton for a 36 yard touchdown score at the 11:02 mark.

Almost two minutes later, Yates found Reymond for a 12 yard touchdown hookup, giving Point the 28-7 lead with 9:12 left in the first half.

Point would add one more score in the first half with Walton catching his second touchdown pass of the day at the 4:39 mark to set the halftime score at 35-7.

On the first play of the second half, Marquez Griffin had another big run but was taken out at the one yard line where Teran Barnitz ran it in for the score.

Chapmanville would add a score with :01 left in the third quarter as Brady Cox caught a touchdown pass from Brandon White. The two-point conversion would be good.

Point Pleasant added their final score when Chase Walton ran one in from 42 yards out. The extra point was no good – kicker Colin Peal’s first miss of the night.

Chase Walton scored four touchdowns on the night – two in the air and two on the ground.

Defensive leaders for the Big Blacks included senior Andrew Williamson, senior Hunter Bellamy, junior Chase Walton, junior Levi Russell, and several others.

The Big Blacks must now prepare for a first round road playoff game against likely opponent Morgantown High School. Game-time will be announced Sunday morning at the WVSSAC playoff meeting.

Seniors playing their final game at home included the following: Tylun Campbell (captain), Andrew Williamson (captain), Hunter Bellamy (captain), Dakota Jeffers (captain), Victor Mertin, Jacob Gardner, Anthony Perry, Marquez Griffin, Conner Templeton, Zach Coe, Les Schwarz, Kodi Stranahan, Jared Smith, Bobby McKown, Jon Massile, Alex Sheets, and Eric Freeman