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BLUEFIELD, WV – It was a cold Saturday afternoon in the southernmost part of the state as Philip Barbour took on the Bluefield Beavers for a spot in the state championship. Riding the best season in school history, the Colts put up four touchdowns on the road, but it ultimately wasn’t enough, falling 56–27.

Turnovers were the unfortunate theme of Philip Barbour’s offense. Drive one ended with an interception, and drive two ended not only in a fumble but a scoop-and-score. Down two scores early due to those mishaps, the Colts responded with their best drive of the game before being stopped on downs. Bluefield would strike quickly through the air afterward.

Though they fell behind big on the road, the Colts continued to battle. They didn’t fall apart, cleaning up their offensive mistakes while the defense tightened up as well. Before the first half ended, Landyn Carpenter notched a rushing touchdown as part of his 129-yard performance.

The second half also showed signs of life as Malachi Poling continued his stellar return season with a kickoff-return touchdown in the third quarter. He later added a touchdown reception, and Patrick Webster chipped in a return touchdown of his own. Ultimately, the Beavers had too much firepower and too large of an early lead to overcome, pulling away to a final score of 56–27.

Game Balls
Workhorse: Landyn Carpenter
Return Specialist: Malachi Poling
Return Specialist: Patrick Webster

Though the Colts fell short of the state championship game, 2025 was a special season. They became the first team in school history to win 10 games, set the record for most points scored in a season, and reached the program’s first semifinal. The Colts now say goodbye to a legendary senior class: Cameron Bennett, Malachi Cross, Malachi Poling, Patrick Webster, and Tyler Vance. Mason Jones will be a key piece to build around in 2026 as Coach Nick Mayle looks to continue the program’s upward trajectory.

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PHILIPPI, WV — Philip Barbour’s dominant 69-7 win over #11 Clay County delivered the program its 200th victory and punched its first-ever appearance in the WV Class AA State semifinals. The Colts also notched another milestone with their first home quarterfinal game in school history.

The outcome was apparent almost immediately. Philip Barbour exploded to a 28-point first-quarter lead and a 56-0 halftime advantage. When heavy rain rolled in to open the second half, Clay County’s offense unraveled under the conditions, committing multiple turnovers that erased any hope of a comeback.

Philip Barbour amassed 500 total yards of offense, led by RB Landyn Carpenter’s 147 rushing yards. QB Robbie Jones contributed 124 total yards (69 passing, 55 rushing), while WR Malachi Poling continued his big-play season with two catches for 69 yards and two touchdowns. The Colts’ run-heavy approach conquered Clay County as they amassed 417 rushing yards and seven scores.

Defensively, OLB Tyler Vance was a force, delivering an interception, two sacks, seven tackles, 3.0 TFL, a forced fumble, and a fumble recovery. LB Mason Jones added six tackles, two TFL, and a fumble recovery. As a unit, the Colts held Clay County’s high-powered offense to just 77 yards and recovered seven fumbles, returning two for touchdowns.

Game Balls

Offense: Landyn Carpenter, RB

Defense: Tyler Vance, LB

Looking Ahead

#3 Philip Barbour will travel to #2 Bluefield for the WV Class AA semifinals, marking the first meeting between the two programs. The Colts’ defense will be keyed in on Bluefield’s dynamic backfield duo of QB Max Simpson and RB Jeremiah Jones, who each scored three touchdowns in their 45-7 quarterfinal win over Midland Trail.

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PHILIPPI, WV — Philip Barbour defeated South Harrison for the second time this season, earning a 36–8 victory in the first round of the Class AA playoffs and improving the all-time series to 6–10. The Hawks came out aggressive, twice attempting fourth-down conversions deep in their own territory, but both early tries failed — and the Colts capitalized.

After South Harrison’s first failed 4th-and-2 attempt at their own 35, sophomore quarterback Robbie Jones found senior Malachi Poling for the opening touchdown. Another fourth-down stop on the following drive set up Landyn Carpenter, who ripped off a 53-yard score to make it 14–0. A third first-half turnover on downs only further tilted momentum toward Philip Barbour as they controlled the game from start to finish.

The Colts’ offense delivered a complete team performance. Jones threw for 72 yards and three touchdowns and added 71 rushing yards on five carries. Poling scored twice on three receptions, totaling 33 yards. On the ground, Tyler Vance led the rushing effort with 93 yards on three carries, highlighted by a 66-yard touchdown, while Carpenter added 85 yards and a score on 11 carries. Mason Jones accumulated 63 total yards (24 rushing, 39 receiving) and a receiving touchdown.

Defensively, Philip Barbour executed in the game’s biggest moments, repeatedly shutting down South Harrison on fourth down. Parker Herod delivered a massive performance, posting 21 tackles, 2.0 TFLs, and 1.5 sacks. Mason Jones added 16 tackles, helping secure one of the team’s most complete defensive outings of the season.

Game Balls

• Offense: Team Effort
• Defense: Parker Herod, LB

Looking Ahead

#3 Philip Barbour stays home for the Class AA quarterfinals, hosting #11 Clay County. The Colts defeated Clay County in their 2024 meeting but trail the all-time series 1–3. Clay County comes in after a dominant 44–12 upset over #6 Roane County, powered by Cooper Collins, who threw for 342 yards and five touchdowns. Stopping Collins and top target Joel Elliott — who erupted for 241 yards and three scores on six receptions — will be prominent to Philip Barbour’s defensive game plan as they aim to advance.

This article is ONLY possible thanks to generous support from Elkins Physical Therapy Service

PHILIPPI, WV — The Philip Barbour Colts closed out their regular season in dominant fashion, cruising past Lincoln 55-8 to narrow the all-time series to 21-25.

After both teams exchanged empty possessions, Lincoln stopped the Colts on 4th-and-1 — but their brief momentum evaporated as senior Cameron Bennett intercepted quarterback AJ Bart and returned it 47 yards to the Lincoln 43-yard line. Bennett finished that drive himself, scoring on a 14-yard run, then followed with a 4-yard touchdown on the next series. Before exiting late in the first half with an ankle injury, Bennett had already totaled 45 rushing yards, two touchdowns, and an interception.

Junior Landyn Carpenter kept the offense moving, adding two rushing touchdowns of his own before halftime as the Colts built a 27-0 lead. Philip Barbour continued to pour it on in the second half, with sophomore Robbie Jonesconnecting with senior Malachi Poling for a 33-yard touchdown, and Tristan Price delivering a highlight-reel 68-yard pick-six.

Poling also notched his fifth interception of the season, while Price anchored the defense with seven tackles. Lincoln avoided the shutout with a late touchdown from Jacob Bart, but it was far too little, too late as the Colts cruised to their eighth win.

Game Balls

• Offense: Landyn Carpenter, RB
• Defense: Tristan Price, DB
• Do-It-All: Cameron Bennett, ATH/DB

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (8-2) concludes the regular season as the #3 seed in the WVSSAC Class AA playoffs and will host #14 South Harrison in a first-round rematch. The Colts took the earlier meeting 49-22 back in Week 6, though South Harrison still leads the all-time series 10-5.

In that matchup, Philip Barbour’s three kickoff return touchdowns set the tone early — a spark they’ll look to replicate in the postseason. Expect the Colts to emphasize discipline, special teams execution, and continued defensive dominance as they begin their playoff run.

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PHILIPPI, WV — The Colts ended East Fairmont’s four-game win streak decisively, rolling to a 52-14 victory. Philip Barbour executed on all cylinders, taking control early and never letting go—limiting the Bees to just 177 total yards, most of which came after the game was well out of hand. The Colts built a 42-0 halftime lead, setting the tone for one of their most complete performances of the season.

Landyn Carpenter wasted no time making history, surpassing 1,000 rushing yards on the season with his first carry—a 70-yard touchdown to open the scoring. Carpenter finished with 209 rushing yards and two touchdowns, most of which came before halftime. Cameron Bennett added 76 yards on six carries, while Tyler Vance chipped in 82 yards and two scores on just three rushes.

Defensively, the Colts were just as dominant, holding East Fairmont to 37 rushing yards on 19 carries and 27 passing yards (4-of-13), forcing three interceptions—one each from Carpenter, Bennett, and Robbie Jones—along with three sacks and six tackles for loss.

With such a commanding run game and defense, the Colts didn’t need to lean heavily on the passing attack, but they still produced explosive plays through the air. Robbie Jones went 3-for-5 for 146 yards and two touchdowns, while Bennettcompleted one of two passes for a 41-yard score. Kent Rowan led all receivers with a 76-yard touchdown catch, Patrick Webster added 70 yards and a touchdown on two grabs, and Malachi Poling hauled in a 41-yard touchdown to cap the aerial attack.

“I was pleased with the way we came out and started the game last night, after a slow start last week. We played sound defense and executed the game plan offensively without doing anything to cause negative plays,” said Coach Nick Mayle.

Game Balls

Landyn Carpenter, RB/LB

Cameron Bennett, QB/RB/DB

Robbie Jones, QB/DB

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (7-2) wraps up the regular season at home against the Lincoln Cougars (4-5), entering as clear favorites. The Colts trail the all-time series 20-25, but look to close the gap with another strong performance. Containing Lincoln quarterback AJ Bart, the Cougars’ primary offensive weapon, will be key to securing their eighth win and building momentum heading into the postseason. “… we will have to plan for their QB AJ Bart, who is very efficient and versatile,” said Coach Mayle. “We remain focused on one game at a time, and will look at the postseason after we play Lincoln to see where the cards fall.”

This article is ONLY possible thanks to generous support from Arch Recovery Center

PHILIPPI, W.Va. — After a slow first quarter in which the Colts managed just 19 total yards coming off their bye week, Philip Barbour came alive behind a dominant rushing attack to defeat Lewis County 48-15, improving their all-time series record to 19-34.

Lewis County struck first, converting a fake punt to extend a drive that ended in a 30-yard touchdown pass from Eli Jonesto Garret Moats early in the second quarter. The score served as a wake-up call for the Colts, who quickly flipped the momentum and went on to score on seven straight possessions, which translated to a 14-7 lead at halftime and never looked back.

“We started off the game last night with a slight case of the bye week blues and didn’t execute on offense, and had some mental lapses on defense,” said Coach Nick Mayle.

In the second half, Philip Barbour’s offense exploded, led by the dynamic rushing duo of Landyn Carpenter and Cameron Bennett. The Colts’ run game produced 420 yards on 42 carries, resulting in 6 scores. Carpenter had 21 rushes for 202 yards and four scores, while Bennett added 183 rushing yards on 12 carries in addition to a 22-yard passing touchdown.

Defensively, the Colts stifled Lewis County with two forced fumbles and an interception. Mason Jones anchored the unit with 10 tackles, a fumble recovery, and 2 tackles for loss, while senior Patrick Webster hauled in an interception to halt a late drive.

Game Balls

• Offense: Landyn Carpenter, RB
• Offense: Cameron Bennett, ATH
• Defense: Mason Jones, LB

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (6-2) returns home to begin a two-game home stretch, hosting the East Fairmont Bees (3-5). Though East Fairmont holds a 4-game win streak and a 20-4 all-time series lead, the Colts enter as heavy favorites. Containing RB Adrian Fleming and QB Logan Eakle will be key for Philip Barbour to secure their seventh win. “They (East Fairmont) will definitely be ready to play and have proven they will battle throughout the game. They are multi-faceted on offense and aggressive up front on both sides of the ball, which will give us more to prepare for and ensure we are sound in our reads and execution,” said Coach Mayle.

This article is ONLY possible thanks to generous support from Arch Recovery Center

PHILIPPI, WV — The Colts’ defense and rushing attack catapulted them to a 43-0 shutout victory over Petersburg, moving their all-time record in the series to 6-5.

Four interceptions, a fumble recovery, six tackles for loss, and two sacks underscored a dominant defensive performance that suffocated the Vikings all night. Philip Barbour capped Petersburg to just 103 total yards of offense, with senior Malachi Poling making big plays on both sides of the ball — securing two interceptions and adding a 35-yard touchdown reception in a run-heavy game plan.

“Our defense played lights out throughout the game with multiple sacks, TFLs, and QB hurries resulting in several takeaways,” said Coach Nick Mayle. “Getting the shutout against an offense like Petersburg is a confidence boost going into our bye week.”

Offensively, the offensive line paved the way for junior Landyn Carpenter to record a career-best performance with 223 yards and two touchdowns on 22 carries. “They dominated up front, allowing us to rush the ball efficiently. It was a great team win,” said Mayle. Senior Cameron Bennett added 112 rushing yards and two touchdowns on 17 carries behind the powerful offensive line.

Game Balls

• Offense: Offensive Line
• Defense: Malachi Poling, DB
• Career Game: Landyn Carpenter, RB

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (5-2) travels to face Lewis County (2-4) after their bye week, entering as heavy favorites. The Minutemen lead the all-time series 18-34 and won the last matchup, giving the Colts plenty of motivation coming off their dominant shutout.

To avoid an upset, the Colts will need to contain Lewis County’s key duo of QB Garrett Moats and WR Ian Brown, who have powered a balanced offensive attack this season. “They have a power run game, but have shown the ability to open the field up in their passing game,” said Mayle. “We’ll need to be fundamentally sound in all phases of the game to be successful.”

This article is ONLY possible thanks to generous support from Elkins Physical Therapy Service

PHILIPPI, WV — Special teams highlighted the show Friday night as three kick return touchdowns helped Philip Barbour surge past South Harrison, 49-22, cutting the all-time series deficit to 10-5.

The Colts wasted no time setting the tone. Senior Cam Bennett returned the opening kickoff 82 yards and later added a 35-yard receiving touchdown from sophomore quarterback Robbie Jones. Jones also hit Patrick Webster on a 5-yard pass to make it 21-0.

Webster wasn’t done—took a designed QB run 20 yards for a score before halftime. South Harrison ended the shutout with a 29-yard Maddox Maxwell-to-Collin Seguin TD, followed by a Gabe Ferrell 2-point run. But momentum swung back instantly when Webster scooped up a squib kick on the half’s final play and ran for a kick return touchdown, giving the Colts a commanding 35-8 halftime lead.

In the second half, Webster added another return score, while Jones connected with Malachi Poling for a touchdown through the air. Landyn Carpenter led the rushing attack with 91 yards on nine carries, while Jones finished 7-of-10 for 186 yards, 3 TDs, and 1 INT. Poling led the receiving corps with three catches for 88 yards and a touchdown.

The Colts’ defense also made its presence felt. Senior Tyler Vance piled up 14 tackles and a TFL, while both Poling and Webster added interceptions.

“We played a well rounded game vs. South Harrison in all three phases…Explosive kickoff returns by Cam Bennett and Pat Webster set the tone for the game that carried over into our offense and defensive performances,” said Coach Nick Mayle.

Game Balls

• MVP/Three-Phased Impact: Patrick Webster, WR/DB/KR
• Ball-Hawk: Malachi Poling, WR/DB
• Scoring Machine: Cam Bennett, WR/KR

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (4-2) stays home next week to face the Petersburg Vikings (5-1). The series is tied 5-5, though Petersburg has won the last two meetings. The Vikings bring a balanced attack led by seniors WR Kaleb Kuhn and RB Lukas Wolford, along with sophomores RB Evan Tawney and QB Payton Metheny. Stopping that offensive core will be key if the Colts want to extend their win streak. Coach Mayle noted the stylistic change of opponents, making the keys to winning different. Mayle mentioned that the team “…have to be on point in our secondary to limit Petersburg’s explosive passing game.” in addition, “Keeping their athletic QB from scrambling for easy yards…” and “…need to control the time of possession on offense in order to limit their offensive snaps as well.”.

This article is ONLY possible thanks to generous support from Elkins Physical Therapy Service

PHILIPPI, W.Va. — Elkin’s quick start and winning record all-time against Philip Barbour wouldn’t be enough for the Tigers to come away with the road victory, as the Colts settled in for a 37-14 victory. The win narrows the Tigers’ all-time series lead to 37-25.

Elkins came out fast, jumping ahead 14-12 after the first quarter—a score that held through halftime. But after the break, the Colts found their footing, settled in, and never looked back, outscoring the Tigers 25-0 the rest of the way. 

“We didn’t have to make any defensive adjustments, just execute and trust our reads that we had been practicing all week,” said Coach Nick Mayle. “When we were able to establish our run game offensively, it really opened up our passing game and allowed us to be balanced in our attack.”

The ground game was powered by first-year football player Landyn Carpenter, who erupted for 199 yards and two touchdowns on 16 carries, setting up the pass moving forward. Through the air, sophomore quarterback Robbie Jones went 8-of-15 for 191 yards and three touchdowns. Jones’ favorite target was senior wideout Malachi Poling, who torched the Elkins secondary with 4 catches for 148 yards and three scores. Poling also made his presence felt on defense, recording an interception and a tackle.

Game Balls

• Offense: Landyn Carpenter, RB
• Impact Player: Malachi Poling, WR/CB

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (3-2) continues its three-game home stretch next week against the South Harrison Hawks (4-1). The two programs haven’t met since 2009, with South Harrison leading the all-time series 10-4. The Hawks feature a bruising junior rushing tandem in Zane Harlow and Shepard Paugh, and slowing them down will be key for the Colts to notch another win. “We know we must be able to stop their power run game,” Coach Mayle said.

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BRIDGEPORT, WV — Friday night saw Bridgeport continue its winning streak over Philip Barbour, rushing to a 63-14 victory in the Indians’ Homecoming game.

Bridgeport had success early. Leaning on their well-known run game to control the tempo. This allowed them to get out to a lead early and utilize defensive pressure to get the ball back.

Still, senior quarterback Cameron Bennett refused to let the Colts go down quietly. Bennett connected with senior wideout Patrick Webster on a 67-yard touchdown pass midway through the second quarter to cut into the deficit at 42-7.

Later, Bennett set up another scoring drive with a long run before hitting senior receiver Malachi Poling on a 14-yard touchdown pass in the third quarter, making it 56-14. However, Bridgeport’s offense maintained control the game, shortening the second half to the final score of 63-14.

Game Ball

• Persistent Competitor: Cameron Bennett, QB
• Deep Threat: Malachi Poling, WR

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (2-2) will look to rebound when they finally play their home opener, facing the undefeated Elkins Tigers (4-0). The Colts dropped last year’s meeting 21-14 and trail the all-time series 24-37. This matchup adds extra intrigue, as Elkins features senior running back Logan Beam, who rushed for 1,180 yards with the Colts last season before transferring. Slowing Beam down will be crucial if Philip Barbour hopes to get back on track in their home opener.

This article is ONLY possible thanks to generous support from Arch Recovery Center

FARMINGTON, W.Va. — The Philip Barbour Colts entered Friday night’s showdown with North Marion as underdogs, but the two undefeated squads delivered a defensive showdown that came down to the final possession. While the Colts remain winless against the Huskies in the last seven matchups, this one game was their closest margin of victory thus far.

Both teams scored points on their opening drives, with freshman kicker Ayden Thorne putting Philip Barbour on the board first with a 25-yard field goal, but the Huskies answered as junior running back Blake Edgell ran in a 1-yard touchdown.

From there, defense locked in as North Marion’s pass rush compiled eight sacks and held the Colts to 183 total yards, while Philip Barbour’s defense forced three interceptions and limited the Huskies’ explosive rushing attack to just 142 yards on 43 attempts.

The Colts held momentum late in the first half when sophomore quarterback Robbie Jones found senior wide receiver Malachi Poling for a 55-yard touchdown strike, giving Philip Barbour a 10-7 lead at the break. Any chance of a late Huskies’ response was cut short by senior defensive back Patrick Webster, who hauled in his second interception of the half.

After a scoreless third quarter—highlighted by another Colts interception from senior Cam Bennett—Thorne’s second field goal of the night extended the lead to 13-7 early in the fourth. But North Marion rebounded behind senior quarterback Toby Michael, who came off the bench to lead back-to-back touchdown drives and put the Huskies up 20-13.

The Colts had one final drive to tie the game, but their offense turned the ball over on downs, sealing the victory for North Marion and halting any upset. “Our kids gave tremendous effort despite North Marion being heavily favored,” said Coach Nick Mayle. “We had an outstanding defensive game, but some special teams and offensive mental miscues gave North Marion the opportunities they needed when it mattered late in the game.” 

Game Balls

• Offense: Malachi Poling, WR
• Defense: Patrick Webster, DB

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (2-1) will look to rebound when they travel to Philippi to face the undefeated Bridgeport Indians (3-0). The Colts face a daunting challenge—Bridgeport has dominated the all-time series (6-40) and enters as a near-lock top-three team in West Virginia. To pull off the upset, Philip Barbour’s defense will need to key in on junior running back Gabe Martin, who’s averaging 144 rushing yards per game and already has 10 touchdowns in three games. 

Coach Mayle hopes to have a similar defensive effort next week, saying, “…we will need another great defensive effort and be very disciplined in what we do. They play with great leverage up front, and coupled with the sometimes deceptive motion of the single wing, our defense will have to be on assignment.” While offensively, Coach Mayle says,”We will have to be more explosive offensively and eliminate mistakes. We must take care of the ball offensively and finish drives to get 7 instead of 3″.

This article is ONLY possible thanks to generous support from Elkins Physical Therapy Service

One week after a hard-fought win over Grafton, the Philip Barbour Colts faced another nearby rival in Class 4A Buckhannon-Upshur. The matchup promised big plays and tough battles in the trenches—and it delivered on both fronts.

The Colts’ defense held firm early, but turnovers gave the Bucs valuable opportunities. Buckhannon-Upshur capitalized with a methodical scoring drive to strike first. The lead was short-lived, however, as Philip Barbour’s special teams answered immediately with Cameron Bennett returning the kickoff for a touchdown.

The Colts knew Buckhannon quarterback Dawson Tenney would be a challenge, and he showed why by leading a strong drive to put the Bucs back on top, 10-7. But Philip Barbour’s offense quickly seized momentum. Running back Patrick Webster capped two straight drives with touchdowns, giving the Colts control before halftime.

Philip Barbour’s defense complemented the offensive surge with physical play up front, forcing stops and creating chances. Another score just before the half extended the lead, and after the break Bennett struck again—this time with a long touchdown that stretched the margin to 34-10.

From there, the Colts’ line play and defensive consistency kept the game firmly in hand. Unfortunately, like many contests across northern West Virginia on Friday night, severe weather brought multiple delays before both sides agreed to call the game early.

Quarterback Robbie Jones managed the offense effectively, while Bennett and Webster powered the attack. Defensively, linebacker Tyler Vance stood out once again with a disruptive performance.

Head coach Nick Mayle’s take: “Proud of our effort up front. The defensive line made a difference this week with run fits and pass rush. We were able to establish our run game, which will be beneficial moving forward. It was unfortunate that we only got to play 2.5 quarters, but it was in the best interest of our kids’ health.”

Game Balls

• Offense: Patrick Webster
  
• Defense: Tyler Vance
  
• Mr. Do-It-All: Cameron Bennett
  

Looking Ahead
The Colts hit the road next week for one of the marquee matchups in the state, taking on Class AAA Top 10-ranked North Marion. The Huskies have never lost to Philip Barbour, though last year’s contest was one of the closest in series history. North Marion enters 2-0, led by its offensive trio of Brian Poindexter (#13), Cole Morris (#15), and Toby Michael (#8).

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GRAFTON — The Philip Barbour Colts continued their dominance in the Arch Coal Bowl, shutting out Grafton for their fourth consecutive series victory and sending the senior class off with a perfect record in the rivalry game. The win improves Philip Barbour’s all-time mark against Grafton to 19-43.

Grafton opened with an aggressive strategy, recovering a surprise onside kick and sustaining a promising drive that included a 4th-down conversion. However, the Bearcats were stopped on 4th-and-goal, halting their momentum. The rest of the first half turned into a defensive battle, with neither team threatening to score.

“We played a much-improved and aggressive Grafton team,” said Coach Nick Mayle. “Our defense and special teams kept the game scoreless in the first half while the offense was trying to figure out how to get things going,” said when asked about the game.

The stalemate broke on the opening drive of the second half when freshman kicker Ayden Thorne drilled a 35-yard field goal to put Philip Barbour ahead 3-0. Special teams continued to shine as senior linebacker Tyler Vance blocked a punt, scooped it up, and scored from 21 yards out for the game’s first touchdown.

From there, the Colts took control. Sophomore quarterback and linebacker Robbie Jones secured an interception before leading a scoring drive capped by a 10-yard touchdown pass to senior wideout Malachi Poling. Jones sealed the victory with an 8-yard rushing touchdown midway through the fourth quarter.

The Colts’ defense was ruthless throughout the night. Vance put together a monster stat line with 25 tackles, 3.5 sacks, 2.5 tackles for loss, and a blocked punt returned for a touchdown. Thorne also delivered in his varsity debut, going 2-for-3 on extra points and hitting the key field goal. While their offense took a little to get started, Jones was able to bank in with the only two offensive touchdowns on the night, one through the air and another with his legs.

Game Balls

• Offense: Robbie Jones, QB/LB
• Defense: Tyler Vance, LB
• Unsung Hero: Ayden Thorne, K/P/CB
• Historic Milestone: Class of 2026 becomes the first in school history to go 4-0 in the Arch Coal Bowl.

Looking Ahead

Philip Barbour (1-0) continues its four-game road stretch with a trip to Buckhannon-Upshur (0-1) on Friday, September 5, at 7 p.m. The Colts have historically struggled against the Buccaneers with an 8-45 series record, but momentum is on their side after two straight wins.

Buckhannon-Upshur, coming off a 62-14 loss to Bridgeport, showed explosive playmaking ability with touchdown passes of 56 and 82 yards—threats the Colts’ defense will need to contain. 

“Dawson Tenney is a run threat and can toss the ball 50+ yards on a rope. We will have to limit big plays defensively and find a rhythm on offense to get things rolling. We will have to play disciplined special teams to possibly get an extra possession and definitely not give one away,” said Coach Mayle when looking forward to next week.

The Philip Barbour Colts will have full coverage this season thanks to the generous support of Arch Recovery Center, Elkins Physical Therapy Service, and Antion Financial.

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