Mountaineers fall to Mountain Heritage

  • No. 5 Caleb Cook leads the Mountaineers against #1 Mountain Heritage
    No. 5 Caleb Cook leads the Mountaineers against #1 Mountain Heritage
  • Mitchell golfers celebrate state championship during a well-deserved celebration on Friday night, just ahead of the highly anticipated Mitchell – Mountain Heritage game. Mitchell Golf 23-24 players in attendance: Brody Miller, Maddox Dale, Bryce Miller, Peyton Pitman, Tate Pitman, and Connor Warren.
    Mitchell golfers celebrate state championship during a well-deserved celebration on Friday night, just ahead of the highly anticipated Mitchell – Mountain Heritage game. Mitchell Golf 23-24 players in attendance: Brody Miller, Maddox Dale, Bryce Miller, Peyton Pitman, Tate Pitman, and Connor Warren.
    Brian Hobson
    Sports@mitchellnews.com

    On paper, Mitchell had a good game on Friday, Nov. 1, rushing for over 200 yards and passing for another 150. On the field, Mitchell played from behind the entire game and could never contain the rushing attack of Brandon Quinn and the Mountain Heritage Cougars.

    The game started out well for the Mitchell Mountaineers, forcing a punt after Mountain Heritage gained 5 total yards on 5 plays. Mitchell failed to do anything with their first possession and punted the ball back to the Cougars. Then Mitchell’s problems began. Mountain Heritage scored on their next four possessions, while the Mountaineer offense sputtered, and the Cougars led 28-0 at half.

    Mitchell came out of halftime firing on all cylinders, with a 69-yard run by Owen Riddle down to the Mountain Heritage 2-yard line setting up the Mountaineers’ first touchdown of the night. Mitchell missed the extra point and trailed 28-6. Any thoughts of a momentum shift quickly evaporated as the Cougars’ Carson Jones returned the ensuing kickoff for a touchdown and increased the Cougar lead to 36-6. The Mountaineers scored on their next possession but couldn’t stop the Mountain Heritage offensive onslaught finishing the game with a loss, 55-12.

    Even though the Mountaineers lost, both teams should be commended for their respect for each other. Multiple fans and coaches expressed gratitude for this game being played under the “Friday night lights”, and both teams have playoffs to look ahead to. As one of the visiting Cougar players said about the rivalry game, “It’s all about respect.”