WEST FORK — Quarterback Colton Wise threw for two touchdowns and also ran for another to help West Fork claim a tough 27-22 win over Elkins in a key 3A-1 Conference football victory Friday night at Tiger Stadium.
Wise, a sophomore, sneaked in from a yard out to give West Fork (4-4, 4-1 3A-1 Conference) with 8 minutes, 11 seconds left in the fourth quarter, but the extra point was no good and the Tigers settled for a 27-14 lead.
Elkins (5-3, 4-1 3A-1) sailed down the field in less than three minutes behind quarterback Tristan Ice. The senior scored from 3 yards out and ran in the two-point conversion to get his team within five with 5:11 left.
But the West Fork defense was strong late, forcing Elkins to turn the ball over on downs twice in the final four minutes. The final time came with one second left at their own 20.
West Fork coach Brad Lindley said his team came up with may big plays throughout the game and now have a big chance against undefeated and league leading Green Forest next week.
“Our goal was to get one here and go to Green Forest and give ourselves a chance,” Lindley said. “Now we have that opportunity and now we hope we can make the most of it.”
Elkins coach Thurman Shaw tipped his hat to West Fork for coming up with key stops defensively.
“Hats off to West Fork, they stopped us on key drives, especially that last one,” Shaw said. “It was two good teams getting after it and you can’t feel bad about that.”
EXTRA POINTS
• Will Young caught a touchdown pass and a two-point conversion pass in the final minute of the first half for West Fork. The junior also returned a punt 28 yards to the Elkins 26 to set up the Tigers’ final touchdown.
• Sophomore Briant Bowerman punched the ball away to cause a key Elkins fumble late in the first half, which set the stage for the Tigers’ score and ensuing two-point conversion with 48 seconds left in the second quarter.
• Ice rushed 22 times for 157 yard, a touchdown and a two-point conversion.
UP NEXT: Elkins hosts Greenland next week, before also hosting Green Forest to close the season. West Fork finishes the regular season on the road at Green Forest and then at Greenland.
HOW THEY SCORED
West Fork 27, Elkins 22
Elkins^6^8^0^8^—^22
West Fork^7^14^0^6^—^27
First Quarter
West — Montgomery 3 run (Bartlett kick), 8:34.
Elkins — Kildow 2 run (Run failed), 4:22.
Second Quarter
West — Farris 5 pass from Wise (Kick failed), 9:25.
Elkins — Bulla 29 run (Kildow run), 7:21.
West — Young 19 pass from Wise (Young pass from Wise), :48.
Fourth Quarter
West — Wise 1 run (kick failed), 8:11.
Elkins — Ice 3 run (Ice run), 5:42.