East Hardy stays perfect after late win over Cameron
The Cougars recovered from a fumble and scored with 43 seconds left to remain 9-0 in Class A play.
By Isaac Medina ·
East Hardy High School football remains unbeaten after defeating Cameron 27-20 last Friday. The Cougars (9-0) secured the win with a 27-yard touchdown pass from quarterback Trevor Roof to Dayton Dove in the final minute of the game.
The victory preserves East Hardy's perfect regular season record. They now enter Week 11 as one of two remaining undefeated teams in Class A, alongside Meadow Bridge. The Cougars currently hold the No. 2 ranking in the Class A playoff ratings. Their next game is scheduled for Friday against Petersburg.
Cameron led 21-20 with four minutes remaining. East Hardy tailback Nehemiah Graham ran for 52 yards on the next play. Graham then fumbled on the following snap, giving Cameron the ball at their own 23-yard line. The Dragons advanced to the red zone but failed to score, forcing a turnover on downs.
East Hardy used their final possession to close the game. Roof completed a 14-yard pass to Brinn Childers and ran for 24 yards to move into Cameron territory. After a timeout, the Cougars faced fourth-and-8 with 43 seconds left. Roof passed to Dove, who was covered by one defender, to score the winning touchdown. A successful two-point conversion extended the lead to seven points.
Roof finished the game 14-for-18 for 203 yards. He also rushed for a touchdown. Graham carried the ball 31 times for 151 yards and one score. Dove caught five passes for 103 yards, while Childers had seven receptions for 73 yards.
Coach Devin Orndorff credited the offensive line for giving Roof time. He noted that Roof often sends him notes and acts as an offensive coordinator during practice. Orndorff said the team has a history of close losses in previous postseasons. Last year, the Cougars started 0-3 but won five straight games to earn a No. 12 seed. They beat Sherman in the first round but lost to Pendleton County in the quarterfinals in overtime.
Cameron coach Tim Brown acknowledged that his team did not make enough plays to win. He stated that East Hardy executes when it matters most. Orndorff said the win helps prove the team's quality after previous losses to Pendleton County, Moorefield, and Cameron.
