Mountaineers never trail in 42-19 road rout
Senior lineman Jackson Foxx creates running room for senior Chad Giarrusso during Mitchell’s 42-19 rout of Erwin in Week 1. (Cindy Giarrusso/For the Journal)
The Mitchell High varsity football team started fast and never trailed in a 42-19 rout of Erwin Friday, Aug. 19 in the regular season opener.
The Mountaineers (1-0) staked themselves to an early lead on the road and slowed the Erwin attack throughout the night.
Senior Chad Giarrusso, a transfer from Avery, made a statement in his first game in purple. He ran 44 yards for Mitchell’s first touchdown in the opening quarter, followed by kicking the point-after.
Senior quarterback Ty Turbyfill followed shortly after with a rushing touchdown of his own from 6 yards out to make it 14-0.
Erwin’s Iggy Welch threw a touchdown pass to get the hosts on the board in the second quarter but Giarrusso responded with another rushing touchdown, this time from 11 yards out to put the visitors up 21-6.
Erwin’s Nick Sharpe scored a touchdown late in the second quarter to make the score 21-12 at halftime.
The second half was all Mitchell. Turbyfill scored another rushing touchdown and senior Gage Young ran for a pair of scores while the Mitchell defense held Erwin to just 7 second-half points to make the final score 42-19.
Young led all rushers with 12 carries for 125 yards and two scores. Giarrusso was on his heels with 13 carries for 109 yards and two touchdowns.
Turbyfill ran 10 times for 47 yards and two touchdowns and junior Marley McCourry carried five times for 27 yards.
Turbyfill was efficient through the air, completing 7-of-12 passes for 130 yards, including a 40-yard downfield strike to senior tight end Joe Conley.
Giarrusso caught two passes for 35 yards, senior Dalton Hollifield had two catches for 22 yards and Young registered a reception for 17 yards.
Giarrusso made his presence felt on special teams, too. He punted once for 44 yards and pinned Erwin inside of its 20. He returned a kick for 59 yards and was 6-for-6 on point-after attempts.
Hollifield led the Mitchell defense with seven tackles. Conley and junior Jordan Riddle had five tackles each. Conley had two tackles for a loss.
Mitchell stays on the road in Week 2, journeying down the mountain to play at McDowell (1-0).
McDowell started its season with a 39-36 road win over R-S Central. The Titans led at halftime and held off a late rally from the hosts.
McDowell was 5-4 overall and 3-3 in its conference last season.