Nov. 5—TOLEDO — Players and fans were full of jubilation and head coach Lucas Watkins received a water bath.
The Cumberland Pirates had just won the football program’s fifth playoff game ever, so the celebration was justified.
“It’s exciting. It’s exhilarating. It’s a great feeling,” Watkins said. “This is why you coach football — for feelings like this. I’m just so happy to see the hard work, the effort, and everything pay off for the kids.”
Cumberland defeated Tuscola, 28-6, at Pirate Field.
The Pirates scored on their first offensive possession following a blocked kick by junior defensive lineman Zach Harmon.
Starting at the 24-yard line, Cumberland moved up five yards after a Warriors penalty. Junior quarterback Hudson McElravy found Harmon for five yards.
Senior running back Grant Keyser was stopped in the backfield before gaining two yards. McElravy then rushed for a pair, and Keyser added six more yards. Junior Logan Gerhardt gained seven yards before Tuscola once again stopped Keyser in the backfield.
McElravy then found junior wide receiver Kade McMechan for six yards, Keyser rushed for four, and McElravy hit junior running back Owen McGinnis for a 22-yard gain. McElravy then rushed for one yard.
The drive ended with McElravy finding senior running back Cameron Brown for a 10-yard score, making it 6-0 with 1:57 left in the first quarter. McElravy then hit McMechan for the two-point conversion, pushing the score to 8-0.
Cumberland’s defense again stood tall on the next Tuscola drive, forcing a turnover on downs.
McElravy followed with a 58-yard touchdown pass to Harmon.
“We saw on film that they played a lot of man coverage, so we had a bunch set to the right and kind of condensed them down a little bit,” Watkins said. “We had Zach on the inside and ran a wheel route, slants on the outside, and they lost him.”
The Pirates opened the second half with a score when McElravy found McMechan for a 28-yard touchdown.
Both teams then traded miscues. Each quarterback threw an interception, and Cumberland fumbled.
McElravy found senior wide receiver Kelby Bierman for a 62-yard touchdown that made the final tally.
All night, the Pirates operated under the philosophy, “Bend. Don’t break.”
“We have the philosophy of ‘Bend. Don’t break.’ They did get some chunk plays; we were playing our corners back deep and keeping everything in front of us, and we did that for the most part,” Watkins said. “They were able to get yards and get down in the red zone, but it became a little tougher for them. I thought we did a good job against the run. Then, offensively, we were able to run the football. I thought that set up some stuff in the passing game.”
McElravy threw for 224 yards and four touchdowns.
Watkins said he makes his receivers go.
“Those kids are athletes. It’s not possible if you don’t have the quarterback that delivers the ball like Hudson McElravy,” he said. “I thought he had a really good game.”
Keyser also had a strong showing, rushing for 118 yards.
“That doesn’t happen if it’s not for the offensive line,” Watkins said. “That offensive line did a pretty good job. They blitzed a couple of times, which messed with us, but Grant runs the ball hard.”
Cumberland advances to the second round against Camp Point (Central) on Saturday at 2 p.m. The game will be contested at Central High School.
Alex Wallner can be reached at 618-510-9231 or alex.wallner@effinghamdailynews.com.
