No. 12 East Hardy looks for 2nd straight playoff upset vs. No. 4 Pendleton

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FRANKLIN, W.Va. — After a year absence, East Hardy is back in the Class A state quarterfinals for the sixth time in seven seasons.

The 12th-seeded Cougars (6-5) face a familiar foe in fourth-seeded Pendleton County (9-2), which won the regular-season meeting 56-36 in Week 2. East Hardy will be looking for a little revenge when the teams kick off on Saturday at 1 p.m.

“Pendleton is a tough matchup,” East Hardy head coach Devon Orndorff said. “Their quality skill players are led by an excellent quarterback, Colton Roberson.”

East Hardy is no stranger to the upset. The Cougars knocked off No. 5 Sherman, 42-20, last week. Pendleton routed Greenbrier West, 60-7, in its playoff opener.

Roberson had his way with East Hardy during the regular-season meeting.

While East Hardy held the sophomore to 237 yards, a touchdown and an interception, Roberson ran for 195 yards and five touchdowns.

For the season, Roberson has 2,961 yards passing, 34 scores and six interceptions, adding 1,044 yards and 21 touchdowns with his legs.

That game was part of a string of three East Hardy games in which it allowed 38 or more points to start the season. The Cougars’ defense has had just one such game in their last eight times out.

“Roberson gets the ball out on time and scrambles well when he’s pressured,” Orndorff said. “Slowing down their offense starts with limiting him. Our defense must play well in order for us to be successful.”

East Hardy’s leading tacklers during the regular season were Micah Ludwig (84), Levi Price (80) and Garrett VanMeter (78).

The Cougars’ offense is powered by quarterback Trevor Roof, who threw for 1,959 yards, 36 total touchdowns and five interceptions during the year.

VanMeter led the Cougars with 826 ground yards and eight scores through their first 10 games, but Nehemia Graham had the big game last week, rushing for 108 yards and a touchdown.

“Offensively, we must be consistent and that starts up front with our offensive line,” Orndorff said. “We can’t afford to have negative plays and get off schedule.

“If we can continue to run the ball as effectively as we have the past several weeks, that will be a major factor on Saturday.”

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