SHORT GAP, W.Va. — Frankfort scored more points when Mingo Central had the ball than the Miners’ offense did.
The Falcons’ defense turned an interception and fumble recovery into points and Mingo Central gifted a safety, accounting for 16 points in the 50-15 drubbing top-seeded Frankfort handed the eighth-seeded Miners in a Class AA state quarterfinal on Saturday at Frankfort Stadium.
Frankfort’s suffocating first-team defense held the Mingo offense to 38 yards on 30 plays, including negative 46 rushing yards thanks to a series of high snaps.
“I just saw it last week, even though we won the game, we didn’t finish things off, we didn’t do the little things,” Falcons head coach Kevin Whiteman said. “Thought we did that today. Proud of them for not getting caught up in anything dumb. They had some personal fouls where we could have lost our composure and we didn’t. And I’m just very proud of the whole team for their effort today.”
The Frankfort (12-0) victory was its 26th in a row, equalling the Mineral County record set by Fred “Tack” Clark’s Keyser Golden Tornado from 1955-57.
Fort Hill won an area record 32 straight from 2013-15 under Todd Appel.
It took 21 plays for either team to run a play in Frankfort territory.
By the time Mingo Central finally crossed midfield, it was already 27-0 Frankfort, and that lead swelled to 48-7 by the time the Miners could retreat to the halftime locker room.
“When you’re down on their end of the field and you’re on offense, that’s awesome,” Whiteman said. “We had multiple guys involved, our line did a heck of a job. … We played really well today.”
The teams agreed to play eight-minute quarters in the second half, and the running clock was set into motion after a high snap over the Mingo Central quarterback gave Frankfort the requisite 42-point lead.
Frankfort’s substitutes played the rest of the way.
Mingo Central scored a touchdown on a 32-yard pass from Jamere Knuckles to Keziah Joplin on the final play of the third quarter to make it 50-15 after a conversion pass to Marshall commit Aidan Burke.
Frankfort followed with a three-and-out, but Peyton Brittingham intercepted Knuckles to allow the Falcons to run the clock out.
Braydn Tyler also intercepted a pass, returning it 37 yards for a touchdown.
The defensive score was one of three touchdowns by Tyler in the first quarter. He scampered 32 and 27 yards for scores.
High snaps plagued Mingo Central throughout. Knuckles tried to kick another out of the end zone, but the quarterback whiffed, and Knox Kimble fell on the loose ball for another defensive touchdown.
Cole Shanholtz opened the onslaught with a three-yard touchdown run just 41 seconds into the action — a play after a 44-yard pitch and catch from Blake Jacobs to Blake Carlile on the first play from scrimmage.
“I was pretty confident all week that’s what I was going to call the first play just because of how they were coming up and packing it all in,” Whiteman said. “And I thought we could fry them on that.”
Mingo Central erased the shutout with a five-yard touchdown pass to Terrindez Bryan from Knuckles to make it 27-7, but Carder Shanholtz scored on runs of six and five yards to sandwich Kimble’s fumble return touchdown for a 41-point Frankfort lead at the half.
Tyler led the way with five carries for 86 yards, and Shanholtz ran for 46 yards on five rushes. Jacobs completed 3 of 4 passes for 63 yards.
Knuckles was 14 of 23 passing for 124 yards. Joplin was his top target, making seven catches for 102 yards.
Bam Coleman led Mingo with 10 rushing yards on seven totes.
The second half began without a running clock because of a missed point after touchdown following the Falcons’ fourth score.
Frankfort rushed for 166 yards on 31 carries. Its starting backs had 21 rushes for 154 yards. Mingo Central finished with 16 carries for minus 44 yards.
Frankfort’s first three drives were in Mingo Central territory and spanned 43, 47 and 48 yards. It drove 52 and 55 yards on its other two touchdown series.
Frankfort, the defending Class AA state champion, advances to the state semifinals where it’ll host No. 5 Doddridge County (12-0), a 38-27 winner over No. 4 Independence.
“They’re a lot like us,” Whiteman said. “They play physical, they run the ball downhill, mix in some pass plays, they play strong defense and it’s going to be a tough game for us. I have no doubt they’re a good football team. You don’t get down to Independence, even though Independence is banged up, and win if you’re not a good team.”