The PCHS Warriors hosted the AA powerhouse Cavaliers of Greenbrier West Friday night and were defeated 40-0.

Don't let the lopsided score fool you.

The score going into the fourth quarter was 14-0 and the Warriors played a tough defensive game, but couldn't generate much offense against one of the best teams in the state. PCHS was hamstrung from the outset by the loss of two of their best offensive/defensive players: LB/OL Seth Doss and RB/LB Jesse Hoke - out with injuries.

The defensive effort was courageous, with fine efforts by NT Brandon Gloshen, LB Hunter Grimes, LB Noah Pugh, DE Tanner Graham and DB David Kiner. The Cavs have averaged 42 points per game this season and shut out two other teams. The defense made a tremendous effort to keep the game under control until the fourth quarter.

Trailing 14-0 with 12 minutes remaining, the Warriors took some risks in a desperate attempt to score, but committed two interceptions and lost a fumble. West scored on all three turnovers and took the game completely out of reach of the scrappy Warriors.

But the offensive effort was not without some bright spots.

Noah Pugh, filling in at RB for the injured Hoke, gained 65 yards rushing against a big, talented West defense and Devin Rose gained 22 yards on just two carries. Rose also caught a pass for 16 yards.

Special teams played well. Graham made an outstanding 50-yard kickoff return and Skyler Doss returned two kicks for 44 yards. The Cavaliers were limited to just five yards on the two punts which they returned.

Cavalier RB/DB Janeek Wiggan rushed for 138 yards and a TD and returned an interception 34 yards for a TD. RB Dylan Trout added another 111 yards and two TDs on the ground for West.

The Cavaliers improve to 7-0 and the Warriors drop to 3-4. PCHS is in fourth place in the Potomac Valley II conference.

PCHS hopes to win their final three games and finish with a 6-4 winning record. The goal is very achievable. The combined record of the Warriors' final three opponents is 2-16 and PCHS hopes to get home victories against Tygart Valley (0-6) and Man (2-4), and a road win against Webster County (0-6).

Next up for the Warriors is a home game against conference rivals Tygart Valley. The Bulldogs are 0-6 but field eight seniors on their 38-man roster, including 315-pound center Jordan Landis and talented RB Dylan Warren.

Kickoff is scheduled for October 15, 7:30 p.m. at Warrior Field. Gametime forecast calls for partly cloudy skies with temperatures in the high 40s.

SCORING:
2nd Quarter: 05:29: Trout, 35-yard TD rush, extra point good, 7-0. 00:11: Riffey, 10-yard TD reception from Fitzwater, extra point good 14-0.
4th Quarter: 10:54: Wiggins, 5-yard rushing TD, extra point good, 21-0. 09:52: Wiggins, 34-yard INT return for TD, extra point good, 28-0. 08:08: Fleming 8-yard TD run, extra point blocked, 34-0. 06:07: Trout, 1-yard TD run, conversion failed, 40-0.