Mingo Central quarterback Daylin Goad was stopped at the three-yard line on the final play of the game and undefeated Poca escaped with a 21-14 win in a thriller played at Buck Harless Stadium on Friday night.
The Miners, now 3-2, trailed 21-6 with six minutes remaining before closing to 20-14 on a 20-yard pass from Goad to Devin Hatfield with 5:11 left.
Goad finished the game completing 30 of 47 passes for 289 yards and he rushed 19 times for 96 yards.
Wide receiver Devin Hatfield hauled in eight passes for 121 yards and one score. Drew Hatfield, playing injured, had 10 catches for 92 yards.
Mingo Central lost all three running backs to injuries during the game.
Poca star running back Ethan Payne finished with 196 yards and two touchdowns on 30 carries.
The Miners are idle this coming week. Mingo Central will host Nitro (2-3) on Oct. 11. Kickoff is set for 7 p.m.
At Newtown
SCORE BY QUARTERS:
PO (5-0)….7 7 7 0 – 21
MC (3-2)…6 0 0 8 – 14
Scoring:
First Quarter
PO – Ethan Payne, 4-yard run (Joseph Starcher kick), 8:20
MC – Daylin Goad, 1-yard run (kick blocked), :50
Second Quarter
PO – Toby Payne, 28-yard pass from Jay Cook (Joseph Starcher kick), :39
Third Quarter
PO – Ethan Payne, 1-yard run (Joseph Starcher kick), 4:04
Fourth Quarter
MC – Devin Hatfield, 20-yard pass from Daylin Goad (Daylin Goad run), 5:11.
Next up: Mingo Central (3-2) vs. Nitro (0-0), 7 p.m., Oct. 11.