HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL: Miners knock out two-time defending champs

Mingo Central sent a loud and clear message to Class AA schools across the state following the Miners 24-6 win over two-time defending champion Independence in a game played at “Buck” Harless Stadium on Friday night.

The Miners are the first team to hold the Patriots to a single-digit point total since 2019.

Running back Dylan Vance rushed for 200 yards and scored on a 13-yard run to give the Miners a 16-0 lead in the second quarter.

Quarterback Chriss Ross passed for 102 yards and one score – a 32-yard pass to Malaki Sheppard to open the scoring. Sheppard hauled in seven passes for 68 yards. 

Ross capped the scoring with an 18-yard run in the final moments of the game.

Mingo Central (5-0) faces a huge road test at Scott (5-0) on Friday night. Game time is 7 pm.

At Newtown

SCORE BY QUARTERS:

IN (2-2)……0    6   0   0 –  6

MC (5-0)…0  16   0   8 – 24

Scoring:

First Quarter

No scoring

Second Quarter

Malaki Sheppard, 32-yard pass from Chris Ross (Chris Ross run), 9:08

Dylan Vance, 13-yard run (Tyler Mitchem pass from Chris Ross), 7:21

IN – Tyler Linkswiler, 22-yard run (pass failed), 4:13

Third Quarter

No scoring

Fourth Quarter

MC – Chris Ross, 18-yard run (Malaki Sheppard pass from Chris Ross), 1:39

Next up: Mingo Central (5-0) at Scott (5-0), 7 pm, Sept. 29.