COVINGTON – The Mad River Valley League football championship may not have been at stake Friday night, but that did not stop one of the hardest fought gridiron battles the area had to offer as the Covington Buccaneers pulled out a 12-6 non-league win over Worthington.
With the win, Covington’s season mark jumps to 5-2 while the Buccs remain at 3-1 in MRVL play. Coach Larrie Tisdale’s crew swings back into action next Friday night when they host Miami East.
In other MRVL action, Graham salvaged a 14-7 win over Miami East and Springfield Shawnee clinched a share of first place with a 42-7 stomping of Northeastern. In a Thursday night game, Greenon handled Northwestern, 24-12.
The Buccaneers received the opening kickoff and began a drive on their own 31-yard-line. With Bud Clark, Denny Cain and Nick Steel handling the running, Covington rumbled to the Worthington 15.
Quarterback Rex Huffman then hooked up with wide receiver Ed Hartley for a 15-yard touchdown pass with 7:39 left in the first period. The conversion attempt failed, but the Buccs had jumped to a 6-0 lead.
From that point on through the remainder of the first half, it was all good, hard football with neither team achieving any deep penetration. Jeff Frantz made three outstanding defensive plays for Covington, stopping a trio of Worthington scoring threats as the half ended with Covington still on top, 6-0.
Worthington opened the second half with its only scoring drive of the game, going 72 yards in 12 plays with the final seven yards coming on a pass to Brockwag. The conversion attempt failed, and with 3:13 left in the period, it was Covington 6, Worthington 6.
Cain tallied what proved to be the winning touchdown for Covington. The score capped a 68-yard drive with a 13-yard run and came with 11:56 left to play. The conversion attempt again failed.
From there on out it was all defense.
Scoring By Quarters:
Covington …….6……0…..0……6 – 12
Worthington ….0……0…..6……0 – 6
Scoring Summary:
Covington – Hartley, 15-yard pass from Huffman; PAT: run failed
Worthington – Brockwag, 7-yard pass from Thomas; PAT: pass failed
Covington – Cain, 13-yard run; PAT: pass failed