HHS big plays too much for Spring Valley

Larry Butcher/for the Herald-Dispatch Huntington's Lenny Jackson (3) stretches for extra yardagae against Spring Valley during West Virginia high school football, on Friday, Sept. 2, 2016, at Spring Valley High School.

SPRING VALLEY - Spring Valley often gave up mere inches, but even the Timberwolves' stingy defense had to stand helpless on Huntington High's two biggest plays Friday in high school football.

Jadon Hayes returned an interception 74 yards to set up Chris Rogers' 1-yard touchdown run that gave the Highlanders (2-0) a 14-7 lead, and Cason Kessinger kicked a school-record 53-yard field goal to make it 17-7 as Huntington High (2-0) held on for a 17-13 victory.

The HHS defense held the Timberwolves to 168 total yards, including just 52 on 35 rushing attempts. The Highlanders made nine tackles for losses.

The Class AAA Titans were tied 7-7 and Spring Valley had the ball at the Highlanders' 31. Derek Jackson threw a slant to Austin Stambaugh, but the ball bounced off the receiver's hands and into the arms of Hayes, who sprinted down the Timberwolves' sideline before being knocked out of bounds by Mason Brubeck at the 1.

Two plays later, Rogers crashed in from the 1 to make it 14-7 with 30 seconds left in the first half.

After Huntington High stopped Spring Valley on its initial drive of the third quarter, Kessinger kicked a 53-yard field goal to make it 17-7 and draw a huge reaction from fans of both teams.

Kessinger attempted a 50-harder with 4:16 left in the third quarter, but missed it short.

Spring Valley (1-1) finally had some success on offense late in the third quarter and early in the fourth, taking advantage of 50 yards in HHS penalties to go 67 yards in 10 plays, with Johnson throwing 2 yards to Kane Morrone to pull the Timberwolves within 17-13.

Spring Valley's Jonah Suttles then recovered an onside kick at the Huntington High 45 to stoke the Timberwolves's hopes, but Brock Adkins was stopped for no gain on fourth-and-inches at the HHS 36 with 5:07 to play.

Spring Valley earned one more opportunity when Logan Caldwell intercepted a Brandt Adkins pass at the 50 with 3:39 left. The Timberwolves then drove to the Highlanders 37 where they faced fourth-and-9. Shymeik Burger, though, sacked Johnson for an 8-yard loss and Huntington High ran out the clock.

Spring Valley started well, taking a 7-0 lead on a 12-yard halfback pass from Morrone To Stambaugh with 2:46 left in the first quarter.

Huntington High answered with a 1-yard TD plunge by Hayes, who followed a huge block by Jake Romans into the end zone to cap a 14-play, 75-yard drive with 8:51 remaining in the second quarter.

The Highlanders found a way to win despite losing two of its stars. Quarterback Luke Zban reportedly sprained an ankle late in the first quarter and wide receiver Mikal Dawson injured a knee six plays later.

Huntington High returns to action at 7 p.m. Friday at home vs. George Washington. Spring Valley is at home at 7 p.m. Friday against St. Albans.