The Mitchell High varsity football team breezed through its first test of the season, routing visiting Erwin 47-7 in the regular season opener on Friday, Aug. 20.
The Mountaineers (1-0) racked up 465 yards of total offense while holding the Warriors (0-1) to just 239 yards on 53 plays. Mitchell got 100-yard rushing performances from junior quarterback Ty Turbyfill (136 yards) and senior Carter Hoyle (104).
Turbyfill got the scoring started early with a 3-yard touchdown run just over two minutes into the game. Junior Gage Young followed with two scores of his own in the opening frame— a rushing touchdown from 5 yards out and a 42-yard interception return— to extend the Mitchell lead to 20-0.
Turbyfill scored again on a 41-yard scamper in the waning seconds of the first quarter to put Mitchell up 27-0.
Turbyfill found a wide-open Ethan Willis in the middle of the field for a 38-yard passing connection and ran for another score from a yard out in the second quarter to give the hosts a 40-0 halftime lead.
Turbyfill scored his fourth and final rushing touchdown in the third quarter to push the Mitchell lead to 47-0. Erwin got on the board in the fourth quarter on an 8-yard run to make the final score 47-7.
Turbyfill accounted for five of Mitchell’s touchdowns— four on the ground and one through the air. He completed 4-of-7 passes for 107 yards and a touchdown.
Junior Dalton Hollifield caught three passes for 69 yards and Willis had a reception for 38 yards and a score. Sophomore Chase Duncan and senior Gabe Brandt tied for the team lead with six tackles each. Brandt also had three tackles for a loss and an interception.
Young tallied two interceptions, including the one he returned for a touchdown. On the night, the Mitchell defense created five interceptions.
Mitchell hosts McDowell in Week 2. The Titans (1-0) knocked off visiting R-S Central 20-14 in their regular season opener last week. Kickoff on Friday, Aug. 27 is set for 7:30 p.m. at Memorial Stadium.