Dalton throws for 3 TD, Kovach, Collins ground previously unbeaten Midland Trail, 49-7

Chapmanville's Preston Kovach hurdles a Midland Trail defender during the first quarter of the Tigers 49-7 win over the Patriots (Photo courtesy of CKG Graphics)

Bill Lusk | WVOW Sports

CHAPMANVILLE Dakota Dalton threw for three touchdowns and Preston Kovach and Jeremey Collins combined to rush for 319 yards as Class AAA No. 6 Chapmanville handed Class AA No. 3 Midland Trail its first loss with a dominating 49-7 win Friday night at Barker Stadium.

Kovach had 19 carries for 176 yards and one touchdown and Collins carried the ball eight times for 143 yards and one touchdown as the Tigers (3-0) ran for 430 yards and piled up 626 total yards.

Midland Trail ran for 72 yards on 29 carries and scored on 31-yard pass play from Rayce Dickerson to Xaylen Johns with 0:42 remaining to avoid the shutout.

In the first ever meeting between the schools, Chapmanville failed to score on its first drive, but scored on its next seven drives and had 21 plays of 10 or more yards.

Dalton passed for 196 yards, completing 11 of his 15 passes, throwing three touchdowns and rushing three times for 45 yards and one touchdown.

Trey Ward had a 74-yard and 22-yard touchdown reception and caught four passes for 125 yards. Benji Adkins had two receptions for 44 yards and one touchdown.

Ward’s 74-yard touchdown gave Chapmanville a 7-0 lead with 5:30 to play in the first quarter. The Tigers erupted for three touchdowns and 21 points in the second quarter to put the game out of reach.

Ward had a 22-yard touchdown reception in the second quarter. Dalton added a 10-yard touchdown run and Kovach a 2-yard plunge as the Tigers led 28-0 at halftime.

Collins scored on a 49-yard run and Dalton hooked up with Adkins for a 36-yard touchdown to extend Chapmanville’s lead to 42-0 after three quarters.

Jaxton Ellison, who carried the ball five times for 46 yards, capped the scoring with a 37-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter.

For the Patriots (3-1), Dickerson completed 5 of 15 passes for 107 yards and threw one touchdown while Cayden Roop rushed for 72 yards on 24 carries and Johns caught three passed for 49 yards.

Midland Trail travels to winless Summers County Friday night while Chapmanville hits the road to take on Williamstown, who picked up an impressive 45-21 win over Class AA No. 10 Roane County, in just the second ever meeting between the two schools.

PHOTO | CKG Graphics