COVINGTON – A scoreless first period turned into an 8-0 halftime score and an ultimate 14 to 8 upset victory for Coach Larrie Tisdale’s Covington Buccaneers last evening in a bruising battle that spoiled the Greenon Knights’ homecoming festivities. The win ran Covington’s victory streak to four in a row and put the Buccaneers at the top of the heap in the wild Mad River Valley League scramble.
Covington’s triumph, along with Springfield Shawnee’s 38 to 12 victory over Graham last night, sets the stage for next Friday’s meeting of the two powers and the inside track to the league title.
End Herb Stevenson, in another stellar performance, opened scoring action in the second period, receiving a Brad Barker pass good for 63 yards and a touchdown. Terry Swallow went outside for conversion points to provide the Buccs with an 8 to 0 halftime lead.
Greenon’s partial block on a quick kick situation in the third period, sent the pigskin out of bounds in the endzone, giving the Knights a two-point safety and reception of the ball. A sustained drive then knotted the count 8-8, on a 37-yard pass from Downard to Bloomfield, but an attempted kick for points after failed and the third period ended 8-8.
The Buccaneers’ winning touchdown came in the final stanza on a sustained drive climaxed by Buddy Clark’s one-yard, unmolested burst into the endzone. The run for points after foiled, but Covington had a 14-8 advantage.
Greenon’ final attempt for victory was thwarted when David Wills intercepted a Knight pass near midfield and raced back to the 34. The Buccs were touchdown bent again when the clock ran out with the ball inside the 20.
FROM THE PRESSBOX:
Tisdale’s Trolley moves merrily along, in unison. Line play has been terrific, the unsung heroes are beginning to assert themselves as some of the best in the valley. The defense has contained the ground game exceptionally well. Barker’s scrambling and kicking have been superb. It took all they horses tonight; will demand more next week. Better come early to get a seat!