Published: September 01, 2007 01:08 am         

Big Reds power past Eagles 35-7

PARKERSBURG — After a week of answering questions about its defense, Parkersburg’s prevent unit went into Friday night’s Mountain State Athletic Conference clash with Woodrow Wilson with a bit of a chip on its collective shoulder.

The result was a 35-7 thumping of the visiting Flying Eagles.

“It (the defense) took it (all the talk) personal,” coach Bernie Buttrey said. “All the talk about giving up the most points ever in a Big Red victory kind of upset them.”

That was all the incentive the No. 1-ranked team in Class AAA would need as Woodrow Wilson, which dropped to 1-1 on the season, was held to 192 total yards — 74 after intermission.

“The score was about the same last week at halftime, but I think our conditioning once again proved to be the deciding factor,” Buttrey said.

Preseason Kennedy Award candidate Matt Lindamood continued his assault on the state rushing and scoring titles, piling up 138 yards on 22 carries and scoring 32 points — five touchdowns and one two-point conversion.

Also eclipsing the 100-yard rushing mark was quarterback Andy Thomas, who finished with 109 yards on 13 totes of the pigskin.

“Having Andy back there is like having another great runner in the backfield,” Buttrey said. “With our offensive line and having those two back there running the ball, our offense is hard to stop.”

The duo proved to be unstoppable Friday night as the hosts exploded for 21 unanswered points in the second quarter to break a 7-7 tie and extend their winning streak to 17 games.

“Someone will eventually figure out how to slow down our offense, and when they do we will have to be prepare to adjust our game,” Buttrey said.

For now, however, it is business as usual for the Dudley Avenue crew.

Lindamood, who rushed for 287 yards in a 47-41 win over Cabell Midland in the season opener, got things off to a fast start for the hosts, carrying the football three out of four plays in a four-play, 27-yard drive. The last went for a 1-yard score to put PHS on top 6-0 with 7:54 left in the opening frame. Senior Tyler Warner connected on the ensuing PAT to up the margin to 7-0.

Woodrow Wilson came back on its next possession, however, to knot the score at seven. Quarterback Ryan Stafford and slotback Marquel Ali were the stars of the 11-play, 78-yard drive. The guests got on the scoreboard on a 26-yard completion to Ali with 2:23 still left in the first quarter.

That would be the only time the Flying Eagle fans would be able to cheer as Parkersburg took the ensuing kickoff at its on 30 and proceeded to march down the field in six plays with Lindamood tacking on his second six-pointer on a 25-yard scamper with 11:52 left until the intermission.

Warner’s try for the PAT went wide of its mark, but that would prove to be the only miscue of the half for the boys in red and white.

A three-and-out by the visitors, coupled with a punt that went for minus-six yards, gave the Big Reds another short field opportunity and once again the hosts turned Lindamood loose from 4 yards out for his third touchdown of the first half.

The senior wasn’t finished.

Taking over on its own 22, Parkersburg drove down the field to tack on one more score before the half with Lindamood bulling his way in from a yard out to give the hosts a 28-7 lead at the intermission.

Parkersburg would add one more six-pointer to its total in the fourth quarter on a 1-yard dive by Lindamood and Warner would make good on his fourth PAT for the final score.

— E-mail: jbutta@newsandsentinel.com



Parkersburg 35, Woodrow Wilson 7

WW (1-1) 7 0 0 0 — 7

P (2-0) 7 21 0 7 — 35

First Quarter

PHS: Matt Lindamood 1 run (Tyler Warner kick) 7:54

WW: Marquel Ali 26 pass from Ryan Stafford (Adam Cook kick) 2:23

Second Quarter

PHS: Lindamood 25 run (kick failed) 11:52

PHS: Lindamood 4 run (Lindamood run) 8:03

PHS: Lindamood 1 run (Warner kick) 0:38.7

Fourth Quarter

PHS: Lindamood 1 run (Warner kick) 8:02

Individual Stats

Rushing — P: Lindamood 22-138, Andy Thomas 13-109; WW: Josh Williams 3-27, Ali 7-12.

Passing — Thomas 5-6-0, 61 yards; WW: Stafford 17-25-1, 149 yards, 1 TD.

Receiving — Lindamood 3-50; WW: Ali 5-63-1.