Wildcats control line of scrimmage in 44-27 win
Senior Chad Giarrusso (13) follows sophomore Fernando Flores as he waits for a hole to open up during a play against Andrews on Friday, Sept. 9. Andrews won 44-27. (Cory Spiers/Staff)
The Andrews High football team took an early lead and finished strong in a 44-27 win at Mitchell High on Friday, Sept. 9.
Andrews (4-0) jumped out to an early 14-0 lead with a 44-yard punt return by Isaac Weaver and a passing connection between Donovan Bateman and Weaver minutes later.
The Mountaineers (2-2) responded in the second quarter as senior quarterback Ty Turbyfill tossed touchdown passes to Dalton Hollifield and Chad Giarrusso to tie the game at 14.
Bateman called his own number and scored a touchdown later in the second quarter to lift the visitors to a 21-14 lead but Mitchell came right back when Gage Young returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown.
Andrews added a field goal with 23 seconds left in the second quarter and took a 24-21 lead at halftime.
The Wildcats added to their lead with a pair of third-quarter rushing touchdowns by Weaver and Austin Martin. The two scores put Andrews up 37-21.
Mitchell scored its fourth touchdown in the game’s final minutes when Turbyfill found Giarrusso for a 12-yard connection but Andrews added a final rushing touchdown with 1:07 left to pull away for the last time and win 44-27.
Turbyfill completed 13-of-19 passes for 166 yards and 3 touchdowns compared to 2 interceptions. Hollifield was his favorite receiver as he racked up 7 catches for 86 yards and a score.
Giarrusso caught 5 passes for 76 yards and 2 touchdowns. Young had a catch for 4 yards.
Giarrusso was the team’s leading rusher with 49 yards on 15 carries. Young ran 7 times for 17 yards and Marley McCourry had a pair of carries for 9 yards.
Andrews outgained Mitchell 363-54 on the ground and 381-220 overall.
It marks the second straight home loss for Mitchell, which lost to visiting Watauga in Week 3.
The Mountaineers now open Western Highlands Conference play by traveling to Mars Hill to face Madison. Madison’s home stadium is not currently operational, thus forcing the game onto the Mars Hill field.
Kickoff between Mitchell and Madison is 7:30 p.m. Friday, Sept. 16 at Mars Hill.