PETERSBURG, W.Va. — Braydn Tyler changed the game with three electrifying touches in the first half at Petersburg Friday.
The junior speedster scored Frankfort’s first touchdown on a 42-yard scamper in the first quarter, found paydirt from 45 yards out on his next touch, and he returned a Petersburg pass 40 yards for a score the next time he got his paws on the football.
Tyler’s performance summed up the night for top-ranked Frankfort, which used chunk plays to out-pace fifth-ranked Petersburg, 51-0, on Friday at Viking Memorial Stadium to extend its school-record winning streak to 22 games.
“It’s a nice win, but we didn’t play well,” Frankfort head coach Kevin Whiteman said. “We started off slow and just (had) sloppy execution on offense, and we scored on some big plays.
“I want to really break down and look and see what we did offensively. We just weren’t executing very well, and credit to them, they were packing the box. They had a nice scheme there, but we’ve got to play better.”
Frankfort improved to 8-0 with the romp. Every victory during its winning streak dating back to last season has been by 20 or more points.
Petersburg fell to 5-3, falling to a team ranked within the top 10 of the WVSSAC Class AA playoff ratings in each of its last three games.
Frankfort pounded the Vikings’ small line to the tune of 470 yards on 38 carries, led 31-0 at the half and had a running clock by the start of the fourth up 45-0.
“They’re a really good football team,” Petersburg head coach Shane Shockey said. “I’m just getting started here, and we’re just getting our guys in the weight room, which was never part of the program here. (Frankfort) has been in it for a while. We’re getting there, but right now we’re not on their level.”
Cole Shanholtz led the way with 11 carries for 95 yards, Tyler had 94 yards and three touchdowns on just four touches — in addition to his interception return score — Carder Shanholtz added eight totes for 90 yards and a TD, Blake Jacobs rushed for 78 yards on eight keepers, Peyton Brittingham racked up 49 yards on two runs, and Jake Snurr and Gunnar Bradshaw also scored.
Bradshaw’s 18-yard touchdown run in the second quarter stopped Tyler’s three-touchdown streak, and Rhett Sensabaugh doinked a 39-yard field goal off the right upright and through the goal to give the Falcons their 31-0 edge at the break.
Carder Shanholtz scored from 30 yards out and Tyler on a five-yard run in the third period, and Snurr notched six points with a 25-yard jaunt with the Falcons’ backups in during the fourth.
Frankfort’s defensive front gave Petersburg fits, and sophomore standout Payton Metheny was running for his life. He completed 9 of 22 passes for 103 yards, throwing two interceptions. Bradshaw joined Tyler with a pick.
Frankfort did turn the ball over once, a fumble that was recovered by Evan Tawney.
The Falcons had a 19-8 edge in first downs and 501-134 in total offense. Frankfort was 2 for 6 on third downs but converted both of its fourth-down tries. Petersburg was 3 for 10 on third down and 0 for 3 on fourth.
Petersburg did dominate the time of possession, 29:30-18:30, as Frankfort scored touchdowns on five or fewer plays on four of its six touchdown drives.
Petersburg hits its bye week before heading to Tucker County on Oct. 31, which was stunned by Southern (3-4), 20-14, on Friday.
Frankfort, the reigning Class AA state champion, returns to action at home against last year’s Class AAA runner-up Herbert Hoover (6-1) on Friday at 7 p.m.
“It’s going to be a big game,” Whiteman said. “We’re undefeated, they’ve got one loss, and it’s going to be a heck of a night.”